Glamping is one of the fastest-growing alternative tourism trends in recent years.
It features unique, eco-friendly structures designed to highlight the natural beauty of each area, while promoting local culture and heritage, with a strong emphasis on sustainability.
The new Development Law – Greece Strong Growth, published on 04.02.2022 in the Government Gazette (FEK A’ 16/04-02-2022), supports glamping as an innovative tourism form, offering you the opportunity to start your own glamping business with subsidies of up to 70%.
Ready to Start with Glamping and the Development Law?
The first step is to ensure that the land you already own or are planning to buy is suitable for setting up your glamping site.
Collaborate with an engineer who will guide you through the necessary permits and inform you if your land can obtain the required authorizations. Create a topographical plan (which may also be useful in the future) to learn all the details about your property.
A helpful resource is FEK A 101/24.5.2020, published in May 2020, which institutionalizes glamping and sets the special glamping license for these types of tourism businesses.
What is the cost of a glamping investment?
Conduct a thorough market research. Explore all the construction options you could integrate into your glamping set up and learn about purchase prices and installation costs. From glamping tents, safari tents, glamping domes, yurts, to wooden glamping accommodations, there are many available options to suit your needs.
Consider your target audience. This will help you determine how luxurious your glamping set up should be. Is it worth adding a jacuzzi to attract couples looking for a luxurious getaway? Or do you prefer to offer a more complete experience that can cater to families as well?
With your architect’s help, these elements will allow you to determine the total investment cost, helping you make an informed decision.
Ask yourself which audience you will address and how you will end up with how luxurious you want it to be. Is it worth adding a jacuzzi for couples ? Or do you prefer something complete that can appeal to families as well?
All of the above and with the help of your architect, will help you find out the total cost of the investment so you can decide.
What is the ROI of a Glamping Investment?
Before moving forward, it is essential to draft an initial plan on the expected revenue from your investment.
Here are some key factors to consider when building a focused and realistic plan:
Competitive Analysis: Is there another similar glamping site in your area? If so, how many visitors does it host, and during what periods? What is the nightly rental price, and what amenities does it offer to justify that price?
Offered Services: What services are you planning to provide? Will you offer activities or sports in the area, either independently or with partners? Have you thought about installing communal facilities such as pools, spas, or activities for children to enhance your guests’ experience?
Location: The location of a glamping site is crucial for attracting visitors. Nearby attractions like beaches or mountains, ideal for water sports, hiking, climbing, or mountaineering, can significantly boost your glamping site’s appeal.
Personalized Services: Tailored services have become a key factor for visitors. Do you plan to offer personalized services such as breakfast catered to specific dietary preferences (vegan, gluten-free, etc.), exclusive babysitting for children, or custom yoga lessons based on guest preferences?
These are just a few key considerations that will help you more accurately predict the potential revenue from your glamping site.
What Subsidies Are Available for Glamping?
Once you have determined the total cost of your investment, the next step is to contact a specialized office that handles applications for the Development Law.
The amount of subsidy you can receive depends on the region where your investment is located, as outlined in the Regional Aid Map 2022-2027.
As with all EU-funded programs, you will need to have a portion of the investment (30%-50%), depending on the subsidy you’re entitled to, in order to get started.
Other Financing Sources for Glamping
Even if you don’t have the required funds immediately, there are ways to secure alternative financing sources. A financial institution may be a viable solution to move forward and bring your glamping business dream to life.
Another option is to find a partner or investor who may not have the land or the time to realize the project themselves but has the capital to enter into a profitable collaboration that benefits both parties.
Be proactive and don’t hesitate to share your idea—you may attract interest from unexpected sources!
What Type of Business is Required to Receive Glamping Funding?
You can receive the subsidy whether you already have an established business or if you are in the process of setting one up, provided the publicity procedures have been completed before the project begins.
However, it’s mandatory for your business to have a headquarters or branch in Greece at the time the project work starts.
What is the Timeline for a Glamping Project?
The investment project is completed when the glamping site becomes operational within the deadline specified in the approval decision, which cannot exceed three years from the publication date.
The completion and start of operations are certified with the issuance of a relevant decision within forty days after the submission of the final audit report.
In Conclusion: Why Do You Want to Start a Glamping Business?
Is it for financial return? The subsidy opportunity through the Development Law? Or perhaps you have land that you wish to utilize?
Passion and dedication are key to the success of a glamping business, as with any enterprise, whether in tourism or otherwise.
Consider how you can contribute to the local community. How can you help preserve the uniqueness of the place while promoting local products, history, and cultural identity, with minimal impact on the natural environment and local life?
Our team, consisting of experts with extensive experience in glamping sites in Greece and a deep passion for the industry, is ready to guide you in selecting the ideal glamping tents for your site, tailored to your space and preferences.
Contact us to learn more
