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Turu builds whole new market for holiday parks

A new national accommodation web site promises to open a whole new audience to the delights of Australia's vast array of holiday parks.

Turu.com.au was officially launched last week by media company Nine Entertainment Co with more than 2000 holiday park listings across Australia. Backed by a multi-million dollar marketing campaign, it uses sophisticated technology to identify the perfect property for each traveller.
Turu.com.au general manager Robert Gallagher said Turu offered the tools to build year-round occupancy rates by introducing holiday parks to a whole new audience.
"Turu makes holiday parks easily accessible to people who previously may not have considered them, and our aggressive marketing campaign will ensure they know about it," he said. "The whole idea is to create value for the travelling public and the holiday park operator alike – to bring new people to this $1.1 billion industry.
"We see particular potential to generate bookings in what would otherwise be the off-season, which is crucial to the success of any business in such a capital-intensive industry. The site is free for consumers to search and book, which we know will encourage people to use the service."
Turu is a natural extension of Nine Entertainment Co's long involvement in the caravan and RV sector through its Trader Classifieds division. Trader's flagship RV magazine Caravan World recently produced its 500th issue, and the Discover Downunder TV show continues to grow in popularity. Camper Trailer magazine recently re-launched with a fresh new design catering to the independent off road traveller. The appeal of Turu is that it can offer something to every type of adventurer.
"We have a great affinity for this sector, and we look forward to working closely with our partners in the industry to continually enhance the business to generate enquiries and bookings for all holiday parks operators," Mr Gallagher said.
"Turu's advertising will drive huge numbers of people to turu.com.au, and once there, they will see what a great diversity of accommodation options the holiday park sector has to offer. The site is so intuitive that people will find it easy to explore options they may never have considered before, which is the secret to growing demand in the sector."