City first to greet campers

Campervan travellers will be welcomed to Geelong after receiving cold shoulders along the Surf Coast.
Tourism industry figures said Geelong’s status as Victoria’s first council to partner a new Community Welcomes Recreational Vehicles program could unlock tourism opportunities.
The program highlighted places that actively encouraging recreational vehicle (RV) travellers to visit, said Victorian Caravan Parks Association (VicParks) chief Elizabeth White.
Australia’s fleet of RVs had grown by 34 per cent since 2008 to more than 500,000 to become a “huge opportunity” for councils, she said.
“The RV market is booming in Australia and this program will allow local councils to capitalise on this growth while offering a better travel experience for consumers.”
The VicParks program was designed to provide “a consistent welcoming message” to RV travellers, including a template sign for councils to display so travellers knew facilities were available for RVs, Ms White said.
“With over 2300 camp sites available in the City of Greater Geelong, this is the perfect place to launch this program and we are delighted to have the council as our launch partner.”
Geelong and Bellarine Peninsula tourism boss Roger Grant welcomed the City’s partnership with the free program.
“Greater Geelong is very well placed to embrace this wonderful new initiative,” he said.
“Our region attracts over five million visitors annually and we’re well supported with numerous holiday parks of outstanding quality.”
Ms White said VicParks was “continuing to discuss the program” with other councils.
RV travellers have previously experienced opposition on the Surf Coast where tourism operators have wanted council to deny any free parking spaces for campervans.
RV proponents have pointed out that users still spend money during visits, promising an economic windfall for areas that welcome RV travellers seeking free camp sites.
The potential value of campervan visitations has attracted some parts of the Surf Coast, with Winchelsea earlier this year seeking council backing to be declared an ‘RV Friendly Town’.