Caravaning booms as stamp duty axed: NSW

The NSW government says its decision to axe stamp duty on caravans has resulted in a boom for the local tourism industry.

Treasurer Eric Roozendaal said caravan registrations jumped 33 per cent since stamp duty on the vehicles was abolished on July 1, leading to a new trend in caravaning holidays.

The economy had experienced a healthy boost as people turned their backs on overseas trips, but families and small businesses were the biggest winners, Mr Roozendaal said.

RTA figures show that $887,053 has been waived since the stamp duty was axed, with 1,574 new and transferred caravan registrations in July 2009, compared with 1,182 at the same time last year.

"NSW families have saved almost $1 million because of this decision - in just one month alone," Mr Roozendaal said.

"Small businesses in cities and towns across NSW will reap the benefit as more people holiday locally, and that has a significant flow-on effect for the state's economy.

"It was a commonsense initiative - which saved NSW families money and, just as importantly, will support jobs in the caravan retail and servicing industries."

The caravan and camping industry is the fastest growing domestic tourism sector, with an average of 2,600 caravans sold each year in NSW.