Easter bookings are down following damaging storms on the Gold Coast. Pic: Kit Wise
DEVASTATING beach erosion and persistent bad weather is hammering Easter tourism, with bookings at some Gold Coast caravan parks down by 50 per cent for the approaching long weekend.Operators fear occupancy could hit the lowest levels in years and are slashing prices by up to 25 per cent to milk a boost from the last school holidays before winter.
But holidaymakers appeared to be sitting back and waiting to see what the weather would be like before making the commitment to pack their families up and head to the Coast.
Southport Tourist Park senior employee Lizzie Spanos described Easter bookings as "pathetic" and said the park was currently only about 30 per cent full.
"It is not like it was in the good old days," she said.
"People are thinking long and hard about every single thing they are spending money on."
Dreamtime Caravan Park manager Joy Ross said she was hoping the phone would start ringing during the next few days with people wanting to book into the Upper Coomera park.
"It is certainly quiet compared to normal," she said.
"I would say it is down by about 50 per cent.
"I hope people are waiting because of the weather and they will still come."
Nobby Beach Holiday Village manager Caroline Worth said there was still plenty of room in the park, compared to previous years and that bad weather since the start of the year appeared to be the biggest reason.
"We are still hoping to see bookings pick up and would encourage anyone to come that is thinking about camping over Easter," she said.
"Easter is usually our busiest time of the year, so we are keen to see things turn around."
Eric Fairall, who is involved in the management of Treasure Island Caravan Park at Biggera Waters, said people had been "shell-shocked" by the bad weather.
"It seems people are leaving bookings until the last minute," he said.
"There has been a noticeable slump and we are hoping we can pick up the slack."
Online travel experience booking site Experience Oz released figures yesterday showing a 23 per cent drop in pre-bookings for the Gold Coast, compared to the year before because of bad weather and beach erosion.
"Tourists are finding it too risky to visit," Experience Oz general manager Clint Gudenswager said.
But Gold Coast Tourism CEO Martin Winter said hotel and apartment complexes were reporting an improvement in bookings as Easter approached.
"Across most areas the gap is closing, though some sectors, such as the tourist parks, are finding it harder to overcome the consumer concern around weather and their holiday booking," he said.
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