They are a distinct group, not grey nomads, or camping families or visitors who stay at our hotels or resorts, but predominantly young backpackers who don't want to pay for camping. They can be seen all over the south-west in brightly-coloured, self-contained campervans taking in the sights and pulling in at the side of the road for the night to camp at roadside reserves, parks and foreshores with toilet facilities nearby being the preferred spots.

The question is: do we want to encourage this type of traveller to the region or do we want to force them into areas where they have to pay, such as the caravan parks?

The reality is that the travellers are unlikely to play ball and will find a way around the restrictions anyway through information passed on by social media or simply by seeking out one of the numerous free camping areas in the region, most of which are out of town.

In some areas, these budget wanderers are encouraged to stay through social media and through clear signage to a free camping spot and asked to make a donation. The logic behind a system like this is that the local community benefits from the money the visitors bring, while at the same time maintaining some control.

While not wanting to encourage a free-for-all in our region for non-paying, budget travellers we don't want to close the door to them either. Although they may be on a budget, they still spend in the local community. The smart thing to do would be to provide designated areas close to shops where they are encouraged to camp for free and maybe spend a few bucks into the bargain.

Every little bit counts.