Tasmania to introduce online booking for paid campsites — ABC News Australia
In Australia, on the island of Tasmania, the first phase of an online booking system for paid campsites in national parks and conservation areas will begin operating on November 3. It will cover around 30 campsites across 10 locations managed by Tasmania’s Parks and Wildlife Service.
As ABC News Australia reports, at the first stage, bookings will be required only for campsites where accommodation fees are already charged. The list includes the Arthur-Pieman and Peggs Beach conservation areas, as well as Narawntapu, Mount William, Maria Island, Freycinet, Tasman, South Bruny and Mount Field national parks.
Combating “ghost camping”
Parks and Wildlife Service project manager Chris Evans said the system is intended to help combat so-called “ghost camping.” This refers to cases where holidaymakers occupy a site with an empty tent or van before they actually arrive.
Visitors will need to make and pay for a booking. If it is cancelled on the day of the planned arrival, the full amount will not be refunded. Tasmania’s Parks Minister Nick Duigan said this should give tourists confidence that their paid site will be available when they arrive.
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According to him, if someone has set up a tent on a booked site without paying and making a reservation, that visitor may be asked to vacate the site. At the start of implementation, service staff will take a gentle approach and explain the rules to campers.
Further expansion of the system
At subsequent stages, other Parks and Wildlife Service services are planned to be added to the unified online portal, including bookings for walking routes, cave tours and the purchase of park passes.
Tracey Mallett, head of the tourism organization Visit Northern Tasmania, positively assessed the launch of the system. According to her, the new Spirit of Tasmania vessels, expected to begin operating at the end of October, could bring 2.5 times more travelers in vans per week, while the ability to book sites in advance will ensure they have a place at a campsite.
