The rise of ‘glamping’ continues apace as caravanning and camping experts say the industry is experiencing an ongoing shift towards a younger demographic.
In South Australia, it has just been announced that two new glamping sites are being developed at Port MacDonnell and Penola … and there could be a lot more of the same to come elsewhere,
SA Parks chief executive Fiona Williams Ms Williams told the ABC that she believes the popularity of glamping will continue to grow as it represents a ‘romantic’ introduction to both caravan and camping and the ‘great outdoors’.
“It’s a way of experiencing nature without forgoing those little luxuries that people like to have on a holiday,” she said. “People think caravan and camping and they think of grey nomads, but what we find is that the largest number of trips is actually the 30 to 44 market.”
Glamping is surging in popularity. PIC: Pexels
Coonawarra Bush Holiday Park owner Steven Moignard, told the ABC that he installed 20 eco tents at his site in 2015 and has seen growth of about 25% every year, prior to the pandemic.
Now, following a grant from the Department for Environment and Water, Mr Moignard plans to set up another 20 tents at a new site in Dingley Dell, near Port MacDonnell.
Mr Moignard says the ‘glamping’ experience was popular because visitors can enjoy camping without having to give up their creature comforts.
“If you deck them out with heating, air conditioning, electric blanket, kettles, fireplaces, outside picnic tables, people can have a camping experience without actually having to know anything about camping or putting up a tent,” he told the ABC.
Mr Moignard said glamping tents were also more cost effective to install compared to traditional accommodation … and they had one other big advantage over cabins.
“Cabins are not really removable … once you set them up, they’re pretty well permanent,” he said. “Whereas the glamping tents, you can move them around and you can return the environment back to its existing state if you decide to move it.”
