- What is “glamping”?
First, let’s define glamping. The term “glamping” means the experience of luxury accommodation in nature, in tourist establishment in the countryside erected in off-plan areas and includes different types of accommodation in structures gently harmonized with the natural environment, combining high aesthetics and the provision of upgraded services.
- What does it take to maintain a glamping business?
The procedure for obtaining a Glamping Badge must be followed. This is a five-year badge, with a special logo, issued by the Ministry of Tourism to legally licensed companies, namely hotels and organized tourist camps (campings) that meet the quality criteria and glamping functional specifications, described below.
- Which are the quality criteria of glamping in Greece?
The quality criteria of glamping that a company must meet are the following:
a) accommodation in well-equipped camping facilities of various types and sizes or semi-permanent structures of high aesthetics in shells of special architectural design that can be assembled and disassembled or transported, such as, for example, domed structures (domes), tents or yurts. Permitted installations include underground networks of infrastructure and water supply, sewerage, electricity, as well as access and traffic projects;
b) harmonization of camping facilities and semi-permanent structures with the natural environment with the least possible intervention in it,
c) use of environmentally friendly materials in the whole installation
d) promotion of thematic tourism activities – special forms of tourism.
It is worth noting that a more specific directive of the Hotel Chamber is expected in the near future, which will describe specifically the technical specifications that a company must meet in order to operate in the field of glamping. The picture, as it has been created so far, is that the conditions that apply to camping must be met, as well as the additional criteria that will upgrade the company to a glamping company.
- What is the glamping badge licensing procedure in Greece?
The Glamping Badge is awarded as follows:
2. Then, a special collective body set up by decision of the Minister of Tourism, examines the application for the verification of the fulfilment of the quality criteria and functional specifications of glamping and gives an opinion for the approval or the rejection of the granting of the Glamping Badge. This body may carry out inspections with or without notice throughout the validity of the certification granted.
2. Στη συνέχεια, ειδικό συλλογικό όργανο που συγκροτείται με απόφαση του Υπουργού Τουρισμού, ελέγχει την αίτηση για τη διαπίστωση της πλήρωσης των ποιοτικών κριτηρίων και λειτουργικών προδιαγραφών glamping και γνωμοδοτεί για την έγκριση ή την απόρριψη της χορήγησης του Σήματος Glamping. Το όργανο αυτό δύναται να πραγματοποιεί ελέγχους με ή χωρίς προειδοποίηση καθ’ όλη τη διάρκεια ισχύος της χορηγηθείσας πιστοποίησης.
3. Finally, the Glamping Badge is granted by a decision of the competent body of the Ministry of Tourism and the tourist accommodations in which the Glamping Badge is awarded are registered in the Register of Tourism Enterprises (MIT) of the Ministry of Tourism.
Once the application has been filed, a temporary glamping badge may be issued and is valid until the final badge is issued allowing the company to operate.
- When is the glamping badge revoked?
The Glamping Badge is revoked by a decision of the competent body of the Ministry of Tourism:
a) if the operation of the tourist accommodation ceases for any reason,
b) if, during the inspection, it is found that the quality criteria and functional specifications of glamping are not met
c) if five years have passed since its issuance, without the company having re-applied for the renewal of its certification.
Overall, it could be argued that this is a relatively simple, easy and fast process, which allows entrepreneurs and investors in the field of tourism to be active in the field of glamping.
Nexus law firm will keep abreast of developments in the licensing process for this new form of tourism investment.