How to Start a Glamping Business in Spain: Complete Guide

Glamping, a combination of glamour and camping, has completely transformed the traditional idea of camping, turning it into an unforgettable experience even for the most intrepid traveler. In this guide, we will explore all aspects of how to start a glamping business in Spain, from financial viability to regulation and marketing.

What is a Glamping Business?

Glamping, literally, is the combination of the words “glamour” and “camping,” also known as luxury camping. For many, the idea of camping might conjure up memories of being cold and wet in the middle of nowhere with few or no comforts. However, glamping has completely revolutionized this idea, turning it into an unforgettable experience even for the most intrepid traveler.

Imagine being surrounded by nature and tranquility while having access to the comforts of luxury accommodation. Guests can explore the outdoors and enjoy various activities, from hiking to stargazing, before relaxing in a hot tub and sleeping in comfortable beds.‍

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Discover How to Start a Glamping Business in Spain: Complete Guide

Glamping, a combination of glamour and camping, has completely transformed the traditional idea of camping, turning it into an unforgettable experience even for the most intrepid traveler. In this guide, we will explore all aspects of how to start a glamping business in Spain, from financial viability to regulation and marketing.

What is a Glamping Business?

Glamping, literally, is the combination of the words “glamour” and “camping,” also known as luxury camping. For many, the idea of camping might conjure up memories of being cold and wet in the middle of nowhere with few or no comforts. However, glamping has completely revolutionized this idea, turning it into an unforgettable experience even for the most intrepid traveler.

Imagine being surrounded by nature and tranquility while having access to the comforts of luxury accommodation. Guests can explore the outdoors and enjoy various activities, from hiking to stargazing, before relaxing in a hot tub and sleeping in comfortable beds.

Who are Glampers?

Just as we would describe people who go camping as campers, glamping guests are called “glampers.” These travelers are unique in that they seek a disconnected experience without sacrificing the comforts of a standard vacation rental. Therefore, you will need to attract your target customer by emphasizing your property’s proximity to nature and highlighting the amenities you offer.

Given that glamping is a niche market, ensuring the sustainability of your business will require understanding who intends to stay at your property.

Who Chooses Glamping?

• Young People: Glamping is especially popular among young people aged 18-32, with experts citing several reasons for this. Firstly, it’s a trendy aesthetic, and glamping’s visuals make it perfect for social media. Secondly, music festivals have begun to include glamping as a more comfortable overnight accommodation option.
• Families: In addition to millennials and Generation Z, families have also embraced glamping. They see being in nature as an opportunity to bond and share quality time together, away from work, mobile phones, and video games.
• Everyone: Although young people make up the majority of the market share, glamping appeals to a variety of age groups, which helps support the investment argument. According to the latest data, guests in the 33-50 age group will have the second fastest compound annual growth rate.

Are Glamping Businesses Profitable as Vacation Rentals?

So, is glamping profitable as an investment? This should be your biggest concern before starting your business. The idea of investing in something trendy could make buyers wary, and rightly so.

Fortunately, the popularity of glamping is not so ephemeral. Since its rise to prominence in the late 2000s, glamping has become a travel trend that seems here to stay. With this in mind, coupled with its relatively low initial costs, it’s realistic to expect a fast return on investment.

How Much Does It Cost to Start a Glamping Business?

The initial cost to start a glamping business can vary widely depending on the price of land in your area and the type of accommodations you choose to offer.

While you might be tempted to invest in the cheapest land you can find, remember that location is everything for glamping. So, more expensive land is well worth it if it has a picturesque setting and is close to local natural attractions. Therefore, you will need at least a few thousand euros to start your glamping business, assuming you choose a more economical accommodation option. However, if you expect to provide a more expensive option, such as yurts, your accommodations could cost tens of thousands of euros.

Additionally, as with any vacation rental business, you will need to factor in the following costs:

• Furniture and decoration
• Amenities
• Glamping insurance
• Utilities
• Property taxes
• Maintenance and cleaning costs

How Much Will Glamping Businesses Earn?

Similarly, the income of a glamping business depends on a variety of factors, including the type of accommodations you offer.

For example, you can purchase good quality bell tents for as little as 2,000 euros, which are considered low maintenance compared to a standard vacation rental. High-end luxury camping sites can charge up to 1,000 euros per night, so running a profitable business might be easier than you think.

Overall, the earning potential for glamping businesses ranges from 40,000 to 250,000 euros. This places the profit for glamping businesses between 32,000 and 200,000 euros.

Of course, you will have fewer costs in your second year of business, as you won't have to buy accommodation and furniture again. So your profit will only grow over time!

Types of Glamping

The beauty of glamping, for both investors and guests, lies in the wide range of accommodation types available. Hosts can let their imagination run wild when it comes to the type of holiday experience they offer. In Spain, where there is a diversity of natural environments, the types of glamping accommodation can be very diverse. Some of them include:

• Yurts: Circular tents with beams and fabric walls, originating from Mongolia.

• Cabins and treehouses: Built with wood, often taking advantage of the natural architecture of trees.

• Tiny houses: Small ecological houses built with sustainable materials.
• Wagons: Adapted train carriages for accommodation.
• Tipis and bell tents: Traditional or modern tents, with a triangular shape.
• Caravans: Adapted caravans to offer additional comforts.
• Bubbles and dome houses: Facilities with panoramic roofs to enjoy the starry sky and views.

• Caves: Accommodations built in natural caves, especially in regions like Andalusia.

Why Should You Start a Glamping Business?

Hosts have different reasons for starting a glamping business, and not all do so exclusively for profit. There’s no doubt that glamping can be a lucrative business. However, many do it for their love of nature, the lifestyle, or simply as a side job while caring for their land.

Whatever your reason, here’s why you should start a glamping business:

1. Glamping is an Unforgettable Experience: Glamping opens doors to a whole new group of travelers. The idea of traditional camping deters many people: the cold, mosquitoes, lack of running water, lack of access to fresh food, etc.

However, glamping is a completely different game. Providing a comfortable and unique holiday in nature will allow inexperienced travelers the opportunity to connect with nature.

2. Eco-Friendly and luxurious: With the trend of both luxury and sustainable tourism on the rise, hosts have the opportunity to invest in an eco-friendly holiday industry, and their guests will love them for it!

Installing solar panels and eco-friendly bathrooms while using recycled and organic materials will allow you to offer the experience guests want while reducing your carbon footprint.

3. Low Investment and High Returns: The initial investment for glamping is not as high as buying a house and having to take out a mortgage. Rather, it is much cheaper to build, manage, and administer. Therefore, the profit should be higher, and you should get a return on investment in a shorter period of time.

   The key is to get your glamping vacation rental to market. Knowing how to target your vacation rental to certain types of travelers, such as fitness and wellness travelers and millennials. Being aware of SEO tricks to ensure guests find your vacation rental on popular OTAs.

   Today, glamping is considered a profitable business and can be managed in the same way as any other type of short-term rental.

   4. Glamping is for Everyone: Although the younger generation accounts for almost 50% of the market share, each age group is growing year by year, showing that glamping is for everyone.

   You can adapt your marketing approach to target specific age groups while installing appropriate facilities to match.

   5. Weddings and Events: Glamping is not restricted to local campgrounds. As an investor, you could decide to cater to the growing rise of glamping weddings and music festivals. You can capitalize on these events known to be profitable by offering unique and luxurious experiences for a relatively low initial cost.
   6. Running a Glamping Business is Fun: The opportunity to be your own boss, earn an income, and be surrounded by nature is attractive to many potential hosts. It can be a tremendously rewarding experience to care for your land while welcoming all kinds of people.

   How to Start a Glamping Business

   The great news is that it is relatively easy to open a glamping business considering the low initial costs and minimal construction time. However, a successful glamping business still needs some strategic planning.

   Create a Glamping Business Plan

   Would you undertake any major investment without a structured idea of where you are going? Of course not! Glamping is no exception. Many vacation rental owners are incorrectly led to believe that it is too easy to own a glamping business. While it can be a smaller commitment, planning is still essential.

   A good example of a glamping business plan would include a company and industry analysis, an operations plan, and revenue management, at a minimum.

   Glamping Business Loans

   It’s not land and it’s certainly not a hotel, so what is it? In the eyes of lenders, glamping can be difficult to categorize. It’s important to find the right loan for your glamping project to avoid excessively high interest rates or extended repayment terms. Read all the financing tips so you don't end up paying more than necessary.

   Glamping Business Marketing

   Last but not least is the marketing of your glamping business. Many vacation rental owners discover too late that they don't have a solid plan to attract guests to their property. Don't fall into the same trap. Take proactive steps and learn everything you need to know about how to attract more guests to your property.
   

   Building a Glamping Site

   Your construction will vary depending on several factors. No two glamping businesses are alike, nor should they be! Glamping is acclaimed for its uniqueness, so each construction will be completely different. However, there are some factors to consider regardless of how you decide to create your glamping business.

   Permits: Many sites are heavily protected by government authorities. Protected land and construction permits can make it difficult to build a “luxury camp.”

   Zoning Regulations: Zoning laws are great for when you don’t want a busy highway on your doorstep, but they are less ideal when you are trying to start a vacation rental business. There are many zoning regulations, especially for highly tourist areas, that will prevent you from building your glamping business on some land.

   Purpose: If you are determined to have a glamping business in the form of a tipi tent, you should only consider land that is feasible for this type of construction. Having a clear purpose in mind for your glamping business will make it easier to choose the right land.

   Andalusia

   • Law 13/2011 on Tourism in Andalusia
   • Decree 164/2003, of June 17, on the regulation of tourist camps.
   • Decree 80/2010, of March 30
   • Decree 26/2018, of January 23, on the regulation of tourist camps.

   Aragon

   • Decree 125/2004, of May 11, approving the Regulation of Open-Air Tourist Accommodations
   • Decree 61/2006, of March 7, approving the Camping Regulation

   Balearic Islands

   • Decree 13/2011, of February 25

   Cantabria

   • Decree 95/2002, of August 22, on the Regulation and Classification of Tourist Camps in Cantabria

   Canary Islands

   • The Canary Islands are the only autonomous community in Spain in which tourism regulations do not mention campsites, so there is a legal vacuum in this regard.

   Castilla-La Mancha

   • Decree 247/1991, of December 18, on the Regulation and Classification of Tourist Camps

   Castilla y León

   • Decree 26/2009, of April 2, amending Decree 168/1996, of June 27, regulating Tourist Camps.
   • Decree 9/2017, of June 15, Camping Regulations

   Catalonia

   • Decree 159/2012, of November 20, on tourist accommodation establishments and tourist use homes

   Autonomous City of Ceuta

   • Tourism Regulation, of November 30, 2010, Tourism Regulation of the city of Ceuta

   Autonomous City of Melilla

   • Decree 351/2010, of July 19, regarding the final approval of the tourism regulation of the Autonomous City of Melilla

   Community of Madrid

   • Decree 3/1993, of January 28, on tourist camps in the Community of Madrid

   Foral Community of Navarra

   • Foral Decree 73/2013, of December 4, amending the Regulation for the Ordering of Tourist Camps in the Foral Community of Navarra
   • Foral Order 23/2014, of April 8, determining the characteristics of the distinctive signs for tourist camps in the Foral Community of Navarra

   Valencian Community

   • Decree 6/2015, of January 23, regulating campsites and transit overnight areas for motorhomes in the Valencian Community.

   Extremadura

   • Decree 170/1999, of October 19, regulating public tourist camps, private camps, and municipal camping areas
   • Law 2/2011, of January 31, on the development and modernization of tourism in Extremadura

   Galicia

   • Decree 144/2013, of September 5, establishing the regulation of tourist camps in Galicia

   La Rioja

   • Decree 14/2011, of March 4, approving the Implementing Regulation of the Tourism Law of La Rioja

   Basque Country

   • Decree 396/2013, of July 30, on the regulation of campsites and other forms of camping tourism in the Autonomous Community of Euskadi

   Principality of Asturias

   • Decree 45/2011, of June 2, Camping Tourism Regulation.

   Region of Murcia

   • Law 12/2013, of December 20, on Tourism in the Region of Murcia
   • Decree 108/1988, of July 28, on the regulation of public tourist camps

   Glamping is a growing trend that combines the beauty of nature with comfort and luxury. It is an exciting business opportunity that offers a unique experience for guests. If you are considering starting a glamping business, it is important to research local regulations and plan carefully to ensure the success of your venture.

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