A plan to secure the future of Victoria’s caravan and camping industry has been laid out in print and is ready to be put into action.
The Industry Blueprint, funded by the Caravan Trade and Industries Association Victoria and the State Government, includes six initiatives to help develop the industry over the next five years.
The launch, which took place at Lotus Caravans’ Campbellfield factory on August 1, was well attended by manufacturers and industry stalwarts.
Victorian manufacturing minister Richard Dalla-Riva was on hand to formally launch the blueprint, which he said would “guide industry growth” over the next five years.
Mr Dalla-Riva said the Victorian manufacturing industry needed to continue to grow to maintain its strength in the Australian market.
“You stand still, the opposition will come and swamp you,” he said.
With more than 90 RV manufacturers accounting for more than 80 per cent of Australian production, Victoria’s RV manufacturing industry is worth more than $1.4billion a year.
The blueprint states that the high Australian dollar making overseas travel a valuable holiday alternative, a shortage of skilled labour, low productivity compared to other manufacturing industries, and a slow rate of innovation were slated as the major challenges for the industry.
But by improving productivity, increasing the pace of innovation, ensuring revenue growth continues, enforcing quality and compliance, creating strong leadership, equipping people with relevant skills, and building on collaboration will see the industry flourish.
PIC: Manufacturing minister Richard Dalla-Riva (left) launches the blueprint with CTIAV president Peter May.