Property News · February 15, 2016

What you need to know about “glamping” in Southeast Asia


Big names such as Four Seasons now have tented accommodations in the region
Image credit: Luxury Accomodations Blog
Thailand and Indonesia have been named the hot spots for glamping in Southeast Asia, according to a new report from consultancy firm C9 Hotelworks.
But: what is “glamping” and why is it suddenly hot?
The term is an abbreviation of the phrase “glamourous camping,” which is basically tented accommodation for luxury travellers.
“Sleeping in tents can be traced back to pre-historic times and the dawn of humankind, which makes them the world’s second accommodation innovation hot on the heels of the cave,” commented Bill Barnett, managing director of C9 Hotelworks.
He noted that there had always been an “instrinsic link” between the world’s earliest tourists (known as ‘nomads’) and tented accommodation. With the increasing popularity of Asia’s preferred backpacking destinations, especially for the young, rich, affluent crowd, the region is increasingly becoming a hot spot for glamping properties.
More: How to travel smart with style
Per the study, there are 29 glamping properties in the region, including 14 stand-alone “tent only” resorts and 15 hybrid operations, comprising a total of 533 tents.
Thailand leads in the region with 12 properties in operation, followed by eight in Indonesia, where two more are in the pipeline. Other tourist spots in the region, including Laos, the Philippines, Cambodia, Malaysia, Laos and Myanmar have at least one or two glamping properties.
According to C9 Hotelworks, countries with abundant forest and beach areas ranked high on the chart, with 21 percent of properties catering to mid-scale travellers and 13 percent marketed as entry-level products.
Analysts are now looking at third-placer Laos, which already has two properties. The country has a third glamping development in the pipeline designed by Bill Bensley, who is known in the region as “king of exotic luxury resorts.”
More: An exclusive interview with Bill Bensley
“We are seeing a broader range of traditional investors coming on-stream in newer destinations. Favourable development cost, short build times and ultimately a drive by customers who are looking for more authentic holidays are key motivating factors,” Barnett said.
International luxury brands also have been known to enter the glamping scene, with the Four Seasons and Aman Group opening their own upscale tended accommodations.
Such niche properties promote wellness and sporting activities to attract luxury travellers who might be interested in “roughing it” in high-end tree houses.

Source : property-report.com
Read more…What you need to know about “glamping” in Southeast Asia

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