A classification system will be introduced for campsites

The growth of the modular accommodation market has encouraged businesses to self-regulate. Roskachestvo, established by the government, agreed with industry participants to finalize and implement a system of voluntary classification of camping and glamping sites. Now players with low quality services are appearing in this market, experts say.

The Roskachestvo – Tourism system will voluntarily classify and assign stars to campsites. This is provided for in the agreement that Roskachestvo, established by the Russian government, and the National Union of Professionals in the Camping and Autotourism Industry (NSPKA) will sign on March 16, representatives of the parties told Kommersant. Deputy head of Roskachestvo Yulia Mikhaleva says that the preliminary standard for campsites provides for the assignment of one to five stars.

NSPKA Executive Director Anton Alekseev clarified that work with Roskachestvo will be based on the industry GOST developed in 2018. Voluntary classification according to this document can be passed now, but the document is outdated and now the standards are planned to be expanded, including the requirement to use equipment certified in the Russian Federation, he says.

Yulia Mikhaleva added that when classifying campsites, 25 basic and 40 additional criteria are used, taking into account the quality of access roads, the size and equipment of the site, the number, equipment and location of sanitary modules, the presence of security, kitchens, playgrounds, etc. Anton Alekseev added, that the competence of the NSPCA may not be sufficient in all matters related to the preparation of documents. Roskoshestvo expects to complete the implementation of the system by May.

Modular accommodation facilities are the fastest growing segment of the hotel business. According to calculations by Kontur.Focus, at the beginning of February, 564 companies were registered in the Russian Federation for which camping is the main activity, which is 14.9% more than a year earlier. The number of hotel companies during this period increased by 3.3%, to 15.8 thousand organizations. There are 338 campsites in the NSPKA register. According to NF Group partner Olga Shirokova, such properties are not currently subject to mandatory classification and the quality of services “remains at the discretion of the owners.” The expert considers it appropriate to introduce several categories reflecting different levels of comfort and services.

Roskachestvo says that the classification of objects is aimed, in particular, at compliance with the declared level of service. Deputy Chairman of the Tourism Committee of Support of Russia Marina Nenarokova says that in the conditions of active market development, players appear with low quality services that do not meet consumer expectations.

Yulia Mikhaleva notes that in the future the classification of camping and glamping sites may become mandatory when changes are made to the legislation, but so far there are no clear intentions. Deputy Director of the hospitality industry division of CORE.XP Dmitry Parinos doubts that the transition from voluntary to mandatory classification can now be a priority for the authorities. Although Marina Nenarokova notes that theses about the need to create a unified register of accommodation facilities are heard quite often. If a mandatory classification system is adopted, it is important that it is a document developed by business, otherwise people far from the market may regulate the industry, Ms. Nenarokova emphasizes.

Liliya Protasova, the wife of the head of Roskachestvo, Maxim Protasov, also has interests in this market. According to SPARK, Ms. Protasova owns 15% of Beidewind LLC, which manages the Point Nemo glamping site. The co-owner of this project through Veter LLC was previously Alexey Blinovsky, the husband of the creator of the “Marathon of Desires” Elena Blinovskaya. Liliya Protasova also owns 50% of Anomaly LLC, which develops glamping in the Kimovsky district of the Tula region, not far from Konduki.

Alexandra Mertsalova