Glamping: A review

Abstract

Glamping has been a topic in the academic literature for over 10-years (2013–2024) after first appearing in the legacy news media in 2005. Despite multiple calls to consolidate the academic glamping literature, this is the first known review of peer-reviewed studies. Most authors define glamping with the terms “camping” and “glamorous,” or some form of the latter word (e.g., luxury). The general consensus is that glamping has special features (e.g., amenities, services) that are distinguishable from traditional camping, and demands premium pricing. Not all cultures agree about what entails a glamping accommodating structure, however. Given the wide disparity of glamping definitions and conceptualizations, I globally define glamping as camping with glamorous or luxurious distinctions that are not typical or expected of traditional camping. The study's overarching objectives were to synthesize the glamping literature into core themes, identify research gaps, and prescribe future research directions. Results of the review unveil four themes in the glamping literature, the two most salient glamping attributes and factors influencing planned glamping behaviours. The three research gaps future researchers should address are: (1) inconsistent operationalizations of glamping, (2) inequivalent exploratory methodologies not grounded in theory, and (3) inequivalent attention on glampers, not glamping operator performance. The global definition acknowledges cultural differences in glamping, thus it does not explicitly prescribe an accommodating structure. Future researchers should be sure to describe glamping accommodations within the context of their own culture. Practical and policy implications as well as study limitations are provided.

Management implications

The review uncovered three salient management implications. First are the attributes that glampers find most desirable: nature or outdoors, tangibles (e.g., amenities, décor), services (e.g., dining, housekeeping), recreational accesses (e.g., hiking, yoga), and COVID-19 avoidance. Second is that some travellers prefer space and privacy that emerged as essential glamping characteristics during the COVID-19 pandemic. Third is demographic characteristics of a glamper, including a younger, diverse, and employed audience that usually travels with a partner. Furthermore, three primary managerial topics from a recent glamping industry report are: (1) glamper profiles, (2) glamping structures, and (3) glamping amenities and services.