A concerning trend known as “ghost camping” has recently surfaced, impacting Gippsland’s tourism sector, prompting calls for a revision of the State Government’s free camping policy. This trend involves individuals reserving campsites but not utilizing them, thereby creating a false impression of fully booked campgrounds.

Danny O’Brien, the Nationals Member for Gippsland South, has expressed alarm over the detrimental effects of “ghost camping” on the region’s tourism industry. This practice has been linked to the State Government’s decision to eliminate camping fees at various national parks, including the popular Tidal River campground in Wilson’s Promontory.

During a visit to Tidal River, O’Brien observed numerous vacant campsites despite official indications of full occupancy, indicating a mismatch between online availability status and on-site occupancy. This discrepancy has repercussions beyond the camping grounds, as it deters potential visitors who rely on accurate booking information. Consequently, local businesses and communities suffer from reduced tourist spending due to artificially inflated campground vacancy rates.

Social media responses to O’Brien’s revelations echoed similar experiences across the state, with one commenter highlighting the challenge of canceling bookings made through the government’s online platform. Suggestions have been put forth to address this issue, such as implementing refundable deposits or re-letting unoccupied sites within a specified timeframe to mitigate the adverse impact of “ghost camping” on local economies.

The urgency to address this issue stems from the realization that the current camping model is ineffective and fails to optimize tourism opportunities in Gippsland. By combatting the “ghost camping” phenomenon through policy adjustments and enhanced booking mechanisms, there is potential to restore the vibrancy of the region’s tourism sector and safeguard the economic well-being of local communities.