Holiday parks cash in on hardy winter visitorsQUINN O'CONNELLThe days of holiday parks closing over the winter are rapidly disappearing with a 25 per cent jump in guest nights in June thanks to warmer temperatures and new facilities. Winter shut-downs are increasingly rare, according to Holiday Parks Association chief executive Fergus Brown​. READ MORE:* Holiday parks build flash new facilities so campers stay put in bad weather* Picton $2m-plus holiday park for sale, more staying open to holidaymakers* Freeloading freedom campers cost holiday park up to $50,000* Holiday parks prepare for bumper summer* Southern holiday parks busy* Tahuna Beach Holiday Park set for 20-year makeover project* Ministry helps pay for holiday park staysThere were reports of campers continuing to stay in tents right through the colder weather, which Brown attributed to the fact that about a third of the country's 418 holiday parks were close to the popular Te Araroa Trail. Domestic visitors were the main contributor to increased use of holiday parks and backpackers in June, while overseas visitor nights were up 28 per cent in motels. Nationally, guest nights in short term commercial accommodation were up almost 16 per cent in June compared with last year, providing another record-breaking month of tourism statistics for motels, hotels, backpackers and holiday parks.

Source: Stuff August 10, 2016 00:45 UTC