The government of Western Australia has announced funding of $40.7 million over the next four years for its Caravan and Camping Action Plan.
The plan will see up to 450 new camping and caravan sites created in national parks and reserves from mid-2015, including on at least one on Aboriginal lands in the Kimberley.
Five new commercial campgrounds with caravan facilities are due to be established in ‘high priority’ locations, and some sites equipped with Wi-Fi.
New and upgraded walking, biking and driving trails also feature in the plan, which aims to grow the state’s revenue from camping and caravanning to $12 billion by 2012.
Tourism WA chief Stephanie Buckland said: “In 2013, the caravan and camping sector attracted more than 900,000 visitors and contributed more than $600 million in visitor spend.
“We hope to encourage more caravan and camping enthusiasts to travel around the state, therefore increasing spend in regional areas.”
She added that the tourism body has its sight set on attracting more visitors from Asia to national parks and aims to give every visitor to the state “the opportunity to have an Aboriginal tourism experience”.