Having officially marked its first 12 months of operation Bundaberg Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia (CMCA) park visitors have recorded a total spend of just under $1 million.
Mayor Jack Dempsey said the new park was a boon for the local economy.
“Park visitors have reported a total of $903,789 spent in our local shops and cafes,” Mayor Dempsey said.
“While previously these visitors might have passed the region by they are now not only staying but spending an average of $279 per night.
“It’s pleasing to see such a positive response to this new facility with a total of 3234 nights booked in the first year.”
Arthur Bugden, from CMCA’s national member services team, said the Bundaberg CMCA park had been a “roaring success”.
“During the winter season particularly we’re averaging 20 to 25 vans, I think the maximum we’ve had is about 38 for a night,” Mr Bugden said.
“We’ve even had people come here who liked the place so much they bought houses while they’ve been here.”
He said the network of parks, which are found throughout Australia, had a system in place to record the economic impact of visitors.
“What we do is we send our members an email as they leave here and they go to a survey form and their spend while they’re in town is recorded.
“They are fairly accurate figures.”
He said it wasn’t just the tourist attractions and retail stores where money was spent – not that those areas missed out – but also businesses for servicing, tyres and even hairdressers.
“It’s all sorts of people doing all sorts of things.”
Mr Bugden said the region’s reputation as RV friendly was growing.
“A lot of people have said to us that they used to drive straight passed.
“What we’ve managed to do is draw them in to town with alternative accommodation.”
“In recent times if you sit around the campfire or watch the social media they’re saying what a wonderful place Bundaberg is and most people comment that they didn’t know there was so much to see as there is available here.
“Bundaberg is a wonderful place and the more we get here the better it will be for the whole town.”
The CMCA Park's first 12 months by the numbers:
- Total nights booked: 3234
- Average length of stay: 2.02 nights
- Total recorded spend based on survey responses: $903,789
- Spend per night per RV: $279
