New ARV COVID-19 recovery report charts upward trend in post pandemic facility attendances

A newly released report from Aquatics and Recreation Victoria (ARV) has shown that, in the first half of 2022, there was an upward trend in both average monthly visits to - and memberships at - facilities.

Following on from the findings from aquatic and recreation facilities involved in both ARV’s original COVID-19 Impacts and Recovery Survey and FY22 COVID-19 Recovery Survey, the just published COVID-19 Recovery Survey Report: July 2021 to June 2022 shows recovery across the sector, with consumer demand being a key driver of facility staffing levels and income.

The upward trend shown in the first half of last year peaked at 31,013 average monthly visits across facilities in May 2022 and 2,179 membership in June respectively.

This compared with monthly visits and memberships in the pre-Covid period that were no lower than 30,975 (January 2019 average) and 2,163 (January 2019 average) respectively in the first half of 2019.

ARV advise that while “this data concerns the beginning and end of these six-month periods, it is indicative of a level of industry recovery.”

Noting that “participation data from these six-month periods would appear to offer good insight into the industry’s COVID-19 recovery, adding “the level of learn to swim enrolments and school and carnival bookings present an even more promising outlook, with both strong examples of a recovering industry.”

Across the first half of 2022, there were 298,301 total swim school enrolments compared with first half of 2019 enrolments (pre-pandemic) numbers of 313,485 - a difference of 15,184 fewer like-for-like enrolments in the first six months of 2022.

Tracking towards pre-COVID-19 levels, learn to swim enrolments peaked in March, both in 2019 and 2022, reaching 55,398 and 53,941 respectively. Across the first half of 2022, the total number of school and carnival bookings increased by 36,241, compared to the first half of 2019.

Looking back, the report states “following the first confirmed case of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Victoria, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a catastrophic and enduring impact on the Victorian aquatic and recreation industry.

“Although the toll of the pandemic in Victoria has been felt and voiced by the aquatic and recreation industry for many months, across a number of key areas and forums, the industry-wide impacts have not yet been measured or documented.”

The report comprises qualitative and quantitative data and details the continued recovery of the Victorian aquatics and recreation Industry across the 2021/22 year while also outlining future considerations for the industry with the findings from this survey will support industry advocacy, planning and service delivery.

ARV was supported by Sport and Recreation Victoria (SRV) and the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) in developing the report with the report prepared by Aquatics and Recreation Project Coordinator, Luke Grikepelis.

ARV will continue to monitor the performance of the Industry and will distribute a 2022/23 Victorian Aquatics and Recreation Industry Performance Survey later this month.

Click here for more information and to download the report.