Caravan Industry Victoria chief Daniel Sahlberg calls for more tourism funding

Victoria’s peak caravan body has called for more funding, accusing the government of ignoring the contribution caravaners make to the state’s tourism.

Victoria’s caravan industry is calling out for more government funding to support tourism in regional towns.

Victoria’s peak caravan body says it has been “overlooked” as a source of tourism in the state despite bringing billions of dollars to country towns.

Caravans Industry Victoria — which represents more than 200 caravan and RV brands — chief executive Daniel Sahlberg called on the state government to step up its funding for caravan tourism which he said had been “left behind”.

“The government does not consider us as tourism, they don’t look at us at all,” he said.

“We’ve got a great event now in the Australian Open but what about all these regional towns and people because caravans are the connection to these areas and the Victorian government has spent zero dollars on the caravanning and camping which funds regional towns.

“Unless it’s nights in beds in Melbourne, they don’t care.”

In 2023 Australians spent more than $14bn on caravanning and camping trips, of which about $9.5bn was spent in regional areas.

About 93 per cent of Australian caravans are manufactured in Victoria.

Daniel Sahlberg (left) CEO, Caravan Industry Victoria (CIV) says the industry desperately needs more funding. Photo Luis Enrique Ascui

Mr Sahlberg said caravanning was an “easy win” for the government to promote regional tourism without people having to fork out for flights.

“The beauty of caravans is you can be in one place one week and at another the next,” he said.

“It’s affordable as well. You talk about a cost of living crisis and the importance of mental health and family and that’s what caravanning does.

“Caravanning is that mobile tourism that pushes people around the state to do these things.

“If we keep promoting the big stuff people just go overseas and don’t spend the money here and our economy struggles.”

Les Heyne, who operates caravan parks at Orbost and Marlo in East Gippsland, said the industry had been “forgotten” by governments.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen any money from anyone,” he said.

“The grants system is horrible it’s almost as though we don’t exist. We got one grant when I started 26 years ago and that was it, never seen a cent since.”

Les Heyne, who owns the Marlo and Orbost, caravan park says the industry desperately needs government help. Picture: Supplied

Mr Heyne took over the lease of the Orbost caravan park last year, saving it from shutting down completely.

He said rising energy costs and people opting to set up at free camping sites made it “very difficult” for caravan parks to survive.

“Our power bill two years ago was $33,000 and now it’s $86,000 and our consumption has gone down by 10 per cent,” he said.

“I almost feel like the government doesn’t want caravan and camping parks anymore.”

Mr Heyne said a local evaluation in Marlo revealed caravaners spent about $400 in the town for every $100 spent at the caravan park.

“We did a survey a few years ago that for every $500 we took the local economy was getting around $1500 their way,” he said.

The Victorian Government was contacted for comment.