Greece Establishes Certification Seal for ‘Glamping’ Accommodation

An impression of a glamping site (on exhibit at Greece’s Hotelia expo in 2018). Photo source: TIF-HELEXPO

The Greek Tourism Ministry on Monday introduced a new certification seal for businesses in Greece that offer ‘glamping’ accommodation among their services.

According to the ministry, by introducing the new certification seal, the Greek tourism product adapts in the best way to emerging global tourism trends that are in demad.

What is glamping?

Gaining popularity on an international level, glamping is the activity of camping with the comforts and luxuries of a hotel. It offers the experience of luxury accommodation in nature, within businesses located in the countryside that have been created in off-plan areas and include different types of accommodation in spaces that gently blend in with the natural environment, combining high quality structures with upgraded services.

“Greece is one of the few countries that has already directly legislated the glamping tourism form, which is a new trend of holidaying in nature within facilities that resemble those of a five-star hotel,” the ministry said in an announcement.

The certification seal is granted by the ministry to tourist accommodation of at least three stars (hotels or camping businesses) and has a five-year duration.

Qualification criteria

To be certified as an accommodation that offers glamping services, businesses in Greece must meet qualification criteria that includes:

– offering glamping accommodation options of various types and sizes in well-equipped campsites or semi-permanent structures of high quality architectural design, which can be assembled and disassembled or transported, such as domes and yurts.

– adapting camping facilities and semi-permanent structures within the natural environment with the least possible intervention (without damaging it or disturbing habitats).

– using environmentally friendly materials when setting up glamping accommodation services.

– promoting thematic tourism activities – special forms of tourism.

A glamping pod – an example of a structure qualified as a glamping accommodation. Abroad, glamping accommodation sites include platform tents and tents with wooden frames, among others.

The establishment of ‘glamping’ as a service and the introduction of the certification seal is included in Greek Law 4688/2020. With the new law, the ministry amended a 2015 decision, which defined “the technical and operational specifications of organized tourist camp sites”. According to the ministry, those interested in offering glamping services will now know the exact details that concern their investment.