Canopy & Stars is calling for UK glamping spaces to be given flexibility to open when it is safe and not subject to a ‘one size fits all’ approach to hospitality businesses.
Tom Dixon, co-founder and director of Canopy and Stars, has written to various ministers to urge the Government to consider flexibility for glamping sites when reopening the hospitality sector.
The glamping support letter has been sent to ministers including Secretary of State for DCMS: Oliver Dowden CBE MP, Shadow Secretary of State for DCMS: Jo Stevens, Nigel Huddleston MP and Steve Double MP.
The letter points out that the UK is a world leader in the glamping sector, which is growing exponentially, and is a key part in the future of our country’s sustainable tourism initiative.
It asks that the unique nature of glamping be taken into consideration and that the re-opening of tourism policies considers and reflects that.
The letter argues that glamping sites tend to be remote and rural by nature, and that sites are often spread out over large areas. This means that it would be a lot easier to maintain social distancing when compared to other sectors in the tourism industry.
Canopy and Stars’ “Clean and Safe Charter“, which is linked to government cleaning guidelines and includes implementation of measures like self-check-in and others, is also mentioned as a way to control the spread of the virus.
Cleaning methods are also discussed, arguing that full deep cleans of accommodation units are a lot more achievable in the glamping sector when compared to other areas in hospitality.
A call for more guidance and support packages for glamping businesses is also made. This includes clear guidance as to when and how sites will be able to reopen and a number of changes to grants and schemes already available to make them more accessible to glamping site owners.
If you’d like to read the letter, you can find it here .
