Investors put on tents – Newspaper Kommersant No. 66 (7511) dated 04/15/2023

The small investment required, the availability of subsidies, limited regulation and the growing popularity of outdoor recreation are driving investor interest in camping and glamping. Their number in Russia is growing three times faster than classic hotels, and the average cost of accommodation in such facilities has increased by more than a third over the year. So far, tourists are willing to pay extra for outdoor recreation, but over time, interest in the format may decrease.

According to the results of March 2023, the number of organizations with the type of activity “camping” in Russia increased by 13%, to 1.03 thousand year-on-year, calculated in “Kontur.Focus”. This is the most pronounced dynamics in the accommodation market. The number of companies for the development of hotels increased by 4% over the year, to 35.7 thousand, and sanatorium organizations decreased by 1%, to 1.8 thousand. According to Kontur.Focus, the number of company registrations for campsites in the first quarter 2023 increased by 18% year-on-year, while structures for hotels and resorts decreased by 4% and 11%, respectively.

Travelline says that over the year the number of campsites and glamping sites on the platform has grown by almost 50%, in the segments of hotels and resorts – by less than 10%. Ostrovok.ru points out that 220 glampings and campsites are connected to the platform under direct contracts, which is three times more than a year earlier. The offer of modular hotels has increased significantly over the year and continues to grow, says Denis Drozdovsky, head of the OneTwoTrip hotel direction. Bnovo notes a two-fold increase in the number of objects in the category per year. Glampings there are now considered the main point of growth, adding that the usual campsites continue to develop actively. The development of motorhome travel also contributes to this, says Bnovo Leading Business Development Manager Alina Nikolaeva.

Denis Drozdovsky points out that modular hotels are the youngest segment in the hotel market where there is a free niche. According to Kontur.Focus, companies specializing in campsites accounted for 2.9% of the total number of hotel structures in March. Ostrovok.ru adds that campsites and glampings still form only 1% of the total accommodation facilities on the platform.

A favorable background for the growth of the segment, Mr. Drozdovsky calls restrained attention to it by regulatory authorities. The head of the Natural Code company, Marina Nenarokova, explains that the activities of the facilities are mainly regulated by the norms of land, environmental, sanitary, consumer and general legislation, and individual standards have not yet been adopted. According to her, it is also important for investors to be able to quickly launch a business without engaging in capital construction.

The founder of Ivashkevich Hospitality, Stanislav Ivashkevich, estimates the cost of building a high-quality glamping at about 100 million rubles, and the payback is four to five years. According to the expert, it is necessary to invest at least 500 million rubles in a classic country hotel, and it will take at least 12 years to return them. According to Alina Nikolaeva, investors are attracted by the relatively low entry threshold and the availability of federal and regional subsidies. But the influx of non-professional investors leads to the appearance of low-quality objects, notes Marina Nenarokova.

Travelline associates the popularity of campsites and glampings with the development of ecotourism, the desire of travelers to try new types of recreation within the country. Oksana Shustikova, Director of Development and Communications at Tvil.ru, says that the number of bookings at campsites and glamping sites since the beginning of 2023 has exceeded the figure for the same period last year by 2.5 times. She calls Arkhyz, Anapa, Chemal, Korobitsino, Adygea, Khuzhir and Lakhdenpokhya the most popular destinations.

According to Twill.ru, the average cost of a night in glampings increased by 36% over the year, to 6.2 thousand rubles. Stanislav Ivashkevich adds that accommodation in high-quality glampings costs up to 15,000–20,000 rubles. per night. “The format is at its peak, but over time, interest will decline, and only professional players will be able to continue their activities, as happened with hostels,” he warns.

Alexandra Mertsalova