Interest in glamping – or, “glamorous camping” – is growing among North American leisure travelers, according to the 2019 North American Glamping Report. The report is supported by Kampgrounds of America and reveals that 30 percent of North American travelers say they have taken a glamping trip, which is self-defined, over the past two years.
Research results revealed in the North American Glamping Report show the growing popularity of glamping is being fueled by high levels of participation among young and diverse leisure travelers, including young families and high frequency travelers (those who take 10-plus trips per year). Based on the interest of Gen X, Millennial and ethnically diverse travelers, the trend is well-positioned for continued growth in the years to come.
“We’ve been tracking glamping as an emerging travel trend for the past several years as we’ve seen growing demand for different types of glamping experiences, and deluxe cabins in particular, at our KOA campgrounds across North America,” said Toby O’Rourke, president and CEO of KOA. “The results of this new research reinforce that North American travelers are in fact seeking different ways to experience the outdoors, even if they aren’t traditional campers. One of the most interesting findings in the report was how the self-definitions of glamping varied among travelers, indicating that there’s interest in a variety of glamping experiences. This presents opportunities for those in the outdoor industry to innovate and create the types of glamping experiences today’s traveler seeks.”
Travelers report cabins (64 percent), followed by tree houses (58 percent) and tiny homes (55 percent), are the accommodations that best fit their definition of glamping. Travelers also seek services and amenities that are reminiscent to that of hotels or resorts when they glamp, including Wi-Fi, a full kitchen and private restrooms, along with linen service and the availability of social activities, both on-site and among local attractions.
Additional key findings of the inaugural 2019 North American Glamping Report include:
- Of travelers who glamp, 42 percent are non-white. The highest representation among non-white groups is by African Americans (15 percent of travelers who glamp), followed by Hispanic (12 percent) and Asian (9 percent) travelers.
- Forty-five percent of travelers who glamp are couples with children.
- The interest in future glamping trips is highest among leisure travelers who have already tried glamping at least once – 77 percent of travelers who have glamped before say they are interested in glamping again.
To view the complete findings of the 2019 North American Glamping Report, or obtain related imagery and graphs, click here.
