D19 Motorcaravan parking

Tourism Sector – Development at Smithwicks Brewery Site and other towns and villages in the county.

I am a motorcaravan tourist and with the inclusion of dedicated parking for motorcaravans in the vehicle parking development of the Brewery site it will increase the tourist numbers visiting the city. Similar development at towns and villages throughout the county will bring increased business to these locations. I have used this type of facility as a tourist both here in Ireland and all over the Continent in my Motorcaravan since 1997.

A motorcaravan is in the EU vehicle category M (Directive 2001/116/EC) and motor taxation class is private. This is the same as a private motor car. It must contain all the technologies for living as well as transport in a single self contained unit. This means that a motorcaravan tourist does not have an independent means of transport from their accommodation as trailer caravan (category O vehicles) tourists have.

A survey was conducted by the FICC (Fédération Internationale de Camping, Caravanning et Autocaravaning) on the use of Motorcaravans (SURVEY AND STATISTICS ON MOTORCARAVANNING HABITS - The Motorcaravanning Commission Europe; Published 2012). This survey was carried out among continental motorcaravan users.

This survey showed the following:

·         83% have a monthly income between 2000 and 4000 euro per month and 80% are over 45 years of age.

·         Regarding occupations pensioners and retired people were the largest group at 33%.

·         The spend by motorcaravaners showed that 52% went to a restaurant twice a week or more with 92% spending between 15 and 30 euro per person.

·         66% spend between 20 and 40 euro per person on daily shopping and souvenirs.

·         13% use their motorcaravan between 60 and 90 days a year.

 

This shows a niche tourist that can travel any day of the week any week of the year and is mature with a high disposable income and a high spend on every type of business.

A copy of the full survey is available at www.conozca.files.wordpress.com /2012/09/survey-and-statistics-on-motorcaravanning-habits-english-version.pdf

There are over 10,000 motorcaravans registered in the Republic of Ireland so if Kilkenny could capture just 0.1% of these transient tourists on a nightly basis it would be of great benefit not to mind capturing some of the nearly 4 million Continental motorcaravans. This could bring a conservative extra spend of €400 per night in restaurants and another €500 on shopping and souvenirs on a daily basis, based on only 10 parking spaces. This is an extra €35,000 coming into the local economy on a monthly basis.

Trailer caravans and tents are provided for with a camp site within commuting distance of the city but a parking space is still needed for the towing vehicle if a city visit is planned. A motorcaravan does not have a requirement to use the facilities of a camp site on a nightly basis as all its living facilities as well as power are on board with suitable sealed and certified holding tanks for its liquid and solid waste. A motorcaravan does have a requirement to park on a nightly basis.

There are two different concepts in motorcaravanning that may cause confusion. These are Parking and Camping. A motorcaravan is considered parked when it is taking up the same space stationary as when it is in motion but it may be using blocks to remain level if necessary as this keeps the fridge/freezer working and for safety reasons. Any other action is considered camping and is not allowed at parking places.

 

Proposed actions

The requirements for motorcaravan parking are very little if included in the plan for parking at the brewery site. Parking bays marked for motorcaravan parking only with dimensions of a length of 8 meters and a width of 4 meters per bay. A parking time limit eg 48hrs or 72hrs is beneficial as this prevents long term parking and increases the number of tourists visiting the city and using the facility. Directional signage to the parking facility as this would keep the vehicles on suitable streets as well as signage at the facility would be necessary.

 

Example of an international direction sign

 

The sign shown below is located at the actual parking location. This example is from Spain. It also tells you where services for motorcaravans only are located. The services available are a place to empty your grey water (that is water from the washing and showering waste holding tank) and the black water (that is from your toilet holding tank) as well as drinking water. The time limit and other restrictions on parking are also shown.

 

 

This is another example of a sign at the parking location

 

Conclusion.

The inclusion of dedicated motorcaravan parking at the Smithwicks Brewery site and at other towns and villages in the county will increase the tourist numbers and spend of over €35,000 per month as motorcaravaners can and do travel 12 months of the year.