Internet and social media chat sites portray an insight into the feedback from vanpackers and grey nomads responding to criticism from some sectors of the community.

“There’s a perception out there that we don’t welcome these tourists,” the city’s tourism services manager Peter Abbott told The Standard.

“I’ve seen lots of online commentary where Warrnambool cops a bagging.”

Their response is sparked by occasional stories in The Standard where some residents and business operators criticise free campers who roll into town and park overnight at foreshore spots, sports grounds and other locations, thus avoiding caravan park and motel fees.

The free camping community argues there is a spin-off in revenue spent on food, fuel and other commodities.

Mr Abbott said the debate was not unique to Warrnambool.

“It’s a national issue with no right or wrong way to handle it,” he said.

“In small towns they seem to open up facilities for free campers, but in larger centres with big investment in accommodation venues there are restrictions.

“We need to get the message out that we welcome all types of tourists.”

Here’s a taste of what some campers said after The Standard ran a story in January featuring a caravan park owner’s complaints about illegal camping near the Hopkins River mouth: 

“Personally I do not visit that area (Warrnambool) because of council policies. There are much better places to visit.”

“We seem to be getting more and more councils realising this and providing areas for freedom of choice camping. Pity Warrnambool council haven’t got the message.”

“Caravan park managers/owners need to get over it. Offer a decent price for their product and stop trying to force their businesses down peoples’ throats.”

“If the city of Warrnambool wants tourists then they need to accommodate them by providing some budget options.”

“I live in Warrnambool and if you go down to the mouth of the river you have to be very careful where you walk. This is the sort of things that give us free campers a bad name and the cause of many of free camps being closed down all round Australia.”

“The problem with councils and caravan park owners trying to force all travellers with RVs, vans and caravans into caravan parks is that all it will do is force nomads to boycott the town and look elsewhere for cheaper or ‘free’ camping spots.”

“In June last year I stayed in a Warrnambool caravan park for $30 per night for ONE (1) in the middle of winter when is was blowing a gale!” 

The increasing trend towards travellers using social media and internet sites for sharing tips on where to stay and go is bypassing traditional visitor information centres.

Mr Abbott said the viability of retaining a shopfront for these services was under pressure.

“These are still vital, but they need to adapt,” he said. “For some small centres the cost per walk-in visitor is extremely high.

“Warrnambool runs the only visitor centre on the coast between Melbourne and Adelaide with an online booking service and has one of the lowest operating costs.

“We also have Facebook and a website.”

Mr Abbott said another challenge was to have appropriate language skills and marketing for increasing numbers of self-drive international tourists.

“Chinese, Singaporeans and Indians are quite adventurous in driving themselves around,” he said. 

“If we can get them in a car there’s a greater chance they will go past the Twelve Apostles and see more of the south-west.”