The caravan park industry in the Capes region will be targeted as part of a Statewide plan by Tourism WA to bolster the sector.

Tourism Minister Kim Hames told the Times last week it was important to reinvigorate the sector to attract new customers and encourage repeat visitations.

“Customers are becoming spoilt for choice from competing holiday destinations . . . The caravan and camping holiday sector is not immune and so commercial parks are encouraged to enhance their operations,” he said.

Dr Hames acknowledged there was a role for Government to work with the industry to introduce a range of new ideas, including the establishment of key infrastructure such as dump points and overflow camp facilities and training programs and ccreditation to lift industry standards.

WA Association of Caravan Clubs president Ted Walker said feedback from its network had indicated difficulty in booking sufficient sites in the Capes region.

“There is no way for large groups of caravan clubs to visit the region during busy times, such as Christmas and school holiday seasons,” he said.

Mr Walker expressed disappointment with the change in the tourism market in the region away from recognising that caravan tourists were a major generator of revenue to the local economy.

A need for more sites including basic, low-cost overflow areas, new dump points and improved traffic road facilities were needed, he said.

Augusta-Margaret River Shire Council chief executive Gary Evershed said significant work was done in 2011 and 2012 to upgrade ageing facilities at Shire-operated parks, with more works set to place this financial year.

This included plans to install a dump point in the Gloucester Park precinct, in addition to the one available within Turner Caravan Park.

“The existing Turner Caravan Park Redevelopment Plan is being reviewed this financial year, with a goal to enhance the park’s attractiveness to visitors during the low season winter months, while also addressing ageing infrastructure,” he said.

Mr Evershed said the Shire would also support the undertaking of additional training in the sector as the upskilling of industry workers would only serve to be beneficial to tourism.