Caravan parks could take up to five years to recover from outbreak

Caravan parks could take up to five years to recover from outbreak

15 April 2020

CARAVAN park owners across the district who have been forced to close as a result of the coronavirus are facing a significant financial challenge.

There are growing fears that it could take park owners up to five years to recover from lost revenues as a result of the pandemic.

The owner of Coney Island caravan park near Killough — who has invested around £400,000 in his business over recent years — said the closure of the holiday facilities will also have a major impact on the district’s economy.

Michael Braniff was fully booked for the Easter period and was keen to recoup some of his investment over what is traditionally a busy summer.

But not this year. Coronavirus has changed everything.

Mr Braniff says he has spoken to other caravan park owners who recognise that closing their facilities is the right thing to do in the face of a global pandemic to keep people safe, but the financial hit they are facing will take many years to recover from.

Ahead of the new season he had invested heavily in providing 20 new bases for static caravans to add to the other 135 already on site. 

Last year Mr Braniff opened a new touring area for caravans and dedicated base for campers and has invested heavily in the park’s clubhouse and play park facilities.

Disappointed that he has had to close, he says he fully understands the reason for doing so.

“People’s safety is the most important thing due to this terrible virus,” he continued.

“A huge number of businesses right across the district have had to close, including caravan parks, which will have a major impact on the economy.

“No one knows where this is going to end. While people are not coming to caravan parks, their owners still have bills to pay which is not going to be easy in the current economic climate.”

The closure of caravan parks coincides with the time when site fees are normally paid which helps park owners meet a range of costs associated with maintaining their respective operations.

Mr Braniff said caravan parks the “length and breadth of lreland” are closed and revealed owners who flout the current restrictions in place and who open for business could be fined as much as £100,000.

“These are certainly very difficult times for everyone and people’s health and safety must come first. My biggest fear is that a lot of businesses will go under, despite the help they have been offered in terms of deferred rates and grant support.

“The banks will no doubt be sympathetic as well but when there is no money coming in and businesses will suffer. It is as simple as that.”

Mr Braniff, who runs the caravan park with his wife Eimear, fears that the closure of tourist facilities including beaches and forest parks, alongside leisure centres and other public facilities, could potentially be in place for several more months.

“All those in the tourism industry are in the same boat and one caravan park owner I spoke with recently fears that it could take our particular business up to five years to recover from the impact of this pandemic,” he said.

“If the caravan parks are not open again by July, the entire season will be lost. There is no good allowing us to open in September as it will be too late.”

As people across the district watch developments closely, Mr Braniff said it was important that everyone stays home and obeys the public health advice they are being given.

He continued: “I would appeal to people to please stay at home and if they do have to go out, observe social distancing to help reduce the spread of this virus and save lives. Hopefully by doing this things can start returning to normal in the near future.

“Some of my clients have been in contact asking me when this will be over and they can return to Coney Island, but no one can answer that question.”

Mr Braniff said his caravan park provides a boost for number of businesses in nearby Killough and other parts of Lecale and that its closure will be impacting on them.

He added: “I hope that when all this is over things will return to the way they were before. There has been a caravan park in Coney Island for 50 years with the business previously run by my father Cecil.

“In the immediate future people may be reluctant to travel overseas for a holiday and ‘staycations’ may well be popular, which is good for local tourism providers, including caravan park owners.

“The sheer scale of the coronavirus and the impact it has had in business and family life is something that you struggle to get your head around. Hopefully it will all be over soon.”