Caravan, RV & Accommodation Industry of Australia (CRVA) was formed in 1992 with the goal of increasing participation within the sector off the back of declining manufacturing production numbers. The primary activity of the organisation was the promotion of the industry and more recently the running of an accreditation program for caravan parks, promoting quality business practices.
In November 2013 at the annual Industry Summit hosted by Caravan, RV & Accommodation Industry of Australia Ltd (CRVA) attendees agreed that, for the good of the industry, CRVA and RVM Australia should investigate merging to form one united and strong peak national body. RVM Australia was formed in 1975 to improve compliance standards in caravans and motorhomes manufactured in Australia. The primary activity of RVM Australia was to run the compliance program RVMAP, designed to ensure that Australian RV manufacturers meet the standards required in the program.
This recommendation to merge the two organisations mirrored thinking in the 1990’s when a meeting at the time recorded:
“The greatest contribution to the success of market re-growth in other countries, was the uniting of all sectors of the industry. Instead of seeking to destroy one another, they are supporting one another, with the grown up attitude that the success of the industry leads to individual success ... We have far too many Associations, with the obvious answer being that we must eventually have one National Body, such as the C.R.V.C.A. (or C.I.A. or N.C.C.) to be a strong governing body, with all other Associations being members.”
On 12 July 2014 the new peak national industry body, Caravan Industry Association of Australia, was launched with a larger resource base for consumer marketing and messaging, the opportunity to present a single voice to Federal Government and media with a consistent message, the promise to develop a whole of industry accreditation and compliance program, and the desire for greater harmonisation and co-operation towards industry issues.