Heatwave keeps showgoers at bay

Scorching hot weather contributed to a big drop in crowd numbers at the first two major RV shows this year.

Attendance figures at the South Australian Caravan & Camping Show in mid-February as well as the Victorian Caravan, Camping & Touring Supershow in early March were significantly down compared to last year, thanks in part to heatstroke-inducing temperatures.

Although not divulging exact figures, the promotions and events manager for the Caravan & Camping Industries Association of South Australia, Shani Oaten, said overall attendance at the five-day SA show held last month was down 10 per cent, or around 2000 less than the 30,000-odd spectators in 2012.

That was after a big drop of around 10,000 spectators, or 25 per cent, in 2012, compared to the high of 40,150 recorded in 2011.

Crowds at the Melbourne Supershow (not including final day numbers which are yet to be released) were down by 23 per cent, suggesting an overall total of around 50,000 visitors, compared to 64,355 in 2012, 60,348 in 2011 and 58,422 in 2010.

Max Mayo, the sales and marketing manager of Avida Motorhomes, which exhibited for the first time at the Melbourne show, said the extreme temperatures and unseasonably high humidity levels, combined with the fact most RV displays were outside or in sweaty, non air-conditioned marquees (in the case of Avida), would have deterred many grey nomads and older buyers.

Mayo said the show also proved disappointing from a sales perspective, despite selling around 10 motorhomes including a 9.5m long, $275,000 Avida LongReach motorhome on the first day.

The Victorian Supershow, one of the biggest of its type in Australia, coincided with a record 10-day day streak of temperatures in Melbourne above 30 degrees, while the SA show also experienced some scorchers.

Boasting an unprecedented number of RVs on display, the Melbourne Supershow's organisers were predicting as many as 70,000 visitors prior to the show.

But it could have been even bigger in size, according to Caravan Trade & Industries Association of Victoria CEO, Rob Lucas, who admitted that limited space at the Caulfield Racecourse meant at least 14 manufacturers missed out on a spot, including Seachange Caravans which created its own mini-show at another venue.

The SA show had the opposite problem, with some noticeable gaps among the displays at the Adelaide Showground after Dave Benson Caravans pulled out following a disagreement with the shows’ organisers. The major SA dealer, which looks after 10 RV brands, instead ran a competing, eight day ‘mega sale’ at its two acre showroom over the same period.

However, the 'curse of the weather gods' award goes to the organisers of the Gold Coast Caravan, Camping, 4WD & Fishing Show held on March 1-3, which was washed out after heavy rains.