Today's announcement by the federal government to extend the Bass Strait Passenger Vehicle Equalisation Scheme (BSPVES) by an additional $6 million and provide free passage for passenger vehicles from March to June 2021 is warmly welcomed by Caravanning Tasmania.
While the rebate boost means the ticket cost of an average standard passenger vehicle will be free, those travelling with a caravan or motorhome will also receive the average $240 return saving in their booking.
Association president Bronwyn Wild explained that "It's fair to say that this was not the summer we had hoped for. We rely so heavily on interstate travel to keep our businesses open and 2020 has been really tough where that's concerned with limited business being seen from the Spirit due to COVID restrictions."
Interstate travel accounted for more than 40% of all domestic caravan and camping nights in Tasmania for 2019 (Tourism Research Australia), with the local market not enough on its own to make it viable for what are largely small business operators.
Without local events cancelled due to COVID, and with borders closed for a large part of the year, keeping the gates open has been difficult for many caravan park operators throughout the state.
"This is great news from the federal government, with an average saving of $240 per group booking acting as a big incentive for travellers to come over from the mainland at a time when it is most needed." Ms Wild explained.
"We would like to applaud and congratulate not only the federal government for this incentive, but also all of industry who pulled together and helped advocate to make drive tourism in Tasmania more attractive in difficult times," Ms Wild continued.
