The word ‘glamping’ first appeared in the UK in 2005, and in 2016 it was added to the Oxford English Dictionary. Since then, glamping has gained many fans not only in the UK, but also globally.
This phenomenon is gradually starting to conquer the Czech Republic as well. A survey on camping conducted by CS Building Savings Bank Burinka (member of Erste Group) as part of the SAMOROST house project, confirmed that 43% of Czechs would like to try glamping.
One in ten respondents prefer places that are environmentally friendly. The SAMOROST house will revolutionise modern camping (and sustainable construction in general). It will be the first house in the country to use a natural building material based on mycelium, especially in the form of insulation and interior cladding. It will thus offer visitors a combination of nature and comfort.
The future of nature-friendly tourism
Glamping is becoming more and more popular not only in the Czech Republic but also around the world. This is evidenced by FMI market analysis, according to which the glamping market will reach a value of USD 12.4 billion in 2024 and will exceed USD 39.9 billion by 2034.
One of the main reasons for the growth of this market is its popularity among eco-minded travellers. With the growing emphasis on eco-friendliness, one third of travellers are choosing sustainable camping options, as evidenced by CS Building Savings Bank Burinka’s survey of Czechs.
“We were pleasantly surprised how many people are taking an environmentally responsible approach to camping. When deciding where to go camping, the environment is a crucial factor for more than a third of respondents. One in ten of those surveyed exclusively seek out camping sites that are environmentally friendly,” says Monika Kopřivová, the company’s external communications manager.
People are looking to reduce their environmental footprint and so prefer to be environmentally friendly and sustainable as much as possible. Social media also plays a vital role, allowing campers to share stunning photos and unique experiences, thus increasing the appeal of glamping.
The kings of glamping
According to FMI’s market analysis, the kings of glamping are France, with more than 8,000 luxury campsites, followed by the USA, UK, Canada, Spain, Japan, Germany, China, and Australia.
In the Czech Republic, glamping experienced a boom in 2020 during the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, when people started building their own properties away from the crowds but still looked to incorporate creature comforts.
There are currently about 600 campsites in the Czech Republic, offering a variety of accommodation options from tents and caravans to cabins and bungalows. The CS Building Savings Bank Burinka asked what people like about camping.
According to the CS Building Savings Bank Burinka survey, the biggest disadvantages of camping are the unpredictable weather (39%), lack of comfort (33%), and limited conditions for hygiene (33%). About a quarter of respondents (27%) are afraid of thieves and 18% of wild animals.
Other disadvantages mentioned were old facilities (13%) and insufficient privacy (10%).
