Investing in glamping, camping, and vacation cabins – is it worth it?

Owning land that meets the conditions for investing in the tourism industry certainly tempts owners to start their adventure with renting. The current diversity of offers in this industry leaves unlimited possibilities for investors and thus provides an opportunity for a profitable business, potentially even for inexperienced people.

However, it would be wise to consider whether such a business is profitable at all and which of the options available in your area would be the most advantageous. To this end, it is necessary to learn about the various methods of investing in the tourism industry beyond the obvious forms of rental, such as apartment rentals or the hotel industry.

Much depends on the budget and the land we have at our disposal. However, assuming that the land is suitable for rental and that we are open to various business options, we have the following choices:

• camping,
• glamping,
• a field for motorhomes and campers,
• summer cottages,
• mobile homes,
• spherical tents.

As you can see, it is primarily a matter of how we use the land at our disposal and the budget we have for the planned business.

From the option of investing a small amount only in:

• taking care of the land,
• fencing it,
• connecting electricity,
• securing any areas inaccessible to tourists,
• investing in luxury spherical tents or summer houses.

What characterizes this business and what should you pay attention to?

Is a field for motorhomes and campers a good investment?

Like many other companies in the tourism sector, campsites for motorhomes in Poland operate on a business-to-consumer (B2C) model.

It is interesting to note that in the United States, this type of business has proven to be one of the most profitable and inexpensive. As a result, campgrounds and sites dedicated to motorhomes are popping up like mushrooms after rain in the US. Would this system work just as well in Poland? Basically, the business model of a campground for motorhomes is very financially secure because it allows for many forms of income. Compared to many other businesses in the tourism industry, it has low start-up costs. It is also relatively popular, especially in countries where people are always eager to jump into a motorhome and go on a trip.

In Poland, the target audience will definitely be mostly citizens of neighboring Germany rather than Poles. This is both a positive and negative argument for limiting the rental of your land to motorhomes and camper vans only. One of the negative aspects of the business is that the income is somewhat commensurate with the expenses, which means that unless the site becomes a luxury place with a swimming pool, catering, and other amenities, it will remain profitable, but will not necessarily make you rich. The main expenses incurred by most motorhome parks are related to mortgages, property taxes, and utility bills. In most cases, the fees generated for long-term motorhome parking or typical tourist parking during the holiday months are sufficient to cover most of the fixed operating costs.

Glamping – a luxury form of camping as a business for you?

Budget. Yes, budget is the first aspect that needs to be strongly emphasized. Luxury camping must meet a number of requirements in order to be considered glamping, which is already extremely fashionable and popular around the world. The luxury model is aimed particularly at high-income individuals. While campgrounds are often considered low-budget and suitable for most landowners, this model is not. Starting with an attractive location, through accommodation in the form of luxury tents, delicious food, and a variety of entertainment, to comprehensive care for tourists.

Glamping sites offer amenities such as:

• heated swimming pools,
• golf courses,
• game rooms,
• animal enclosures,
• basketball courts,
• gyms,
• clubs,
• playgrounds,
• and much more.

Currently, it is extremely fashionable to offer spherical tents, which are impressive in themselves and, when properly decorated, can provide breathtaking moments. In addition, they fit into almost any landscape and terrain.

The goal of glamping is to expand camping opportunities for those who want more than just a simple break in nature. At the same time, this type of tourist certainly brings in higher revenues than all other tourism business models.

Camping – something for everyone, and a business for you

Camping leaves little room for guesswork in terms of investment profitability. If you have the land, the desire, and the idea, camping will become a profitable way to earn money. It is an extremely versatile business. You can adapt it to your capabilities, budget, lifestyle, and expectations – there are not many limitations.

Unlike glamping, a campsite does not have such high requirements among tourists. Of course, the better you present yourself to your guests, the more likely they are to return to you in subsequent seasons and recommend you to their loved ones. However, you don’t have to worry about not having a swimming pool or golf course to keep your booking calendar full. Especially in the summer season.

Camping offers many possibilities. From offering a place for a tent, to summer cottages and even mobile homes. You can offer small catering services, ensure clean and functional bathrooms, and your investment in camping will certainly pay off quickly.

Rental management system – your key to success in the industry

Designating land for a campsite, holiday homes, or other tourism businesses has many advantages. This is mainly because such land is usually unsuitable for other economic activities, such as farming, so adapting it for tourism can be an attractive alternative for owners. Regardless of whether the site is located in the mountains, near the beach, or in the city, managing such a business is not easy. Once you have decided what type of business would be right for you, it is worth starting intensive activities leading to the implementation of your business plan. A management system will certainly be useful in this regard.

An intuitive, modern rental management system tailored to the type of business is essential for the efficient management of a business in an industry as multifaceted as tourism. BedBooking is well versed in the management of campsites, RV parks, campgrounds, and any other tourism-related business. It is well aware of the problems faced by investors as well as the expectations of guests.

The application it offers not only facilitates the day-to-day management of your business, but is also a tool that enables business development.

Your offer is available and visible to the customer

The benefits of an application for managing reservations and other areas of the occasional rental business are twofold. On the one hand, it is a nod to the customer, or rather the guest. Your website should be easy to navigate and its graphic design should encourage customers to make reservations directly on your facility’s website. A clear booking process, visible terms and conditions, and the ability to manage your booking and make changes 24 hours a day are a luxury for every tourist, guaranteeing a positive reception of your offer. And that’s not the end of the benefits, because you will see many more yourself, making it easier to control this extremely demanding industry.

Manage your business effectively and remotely

A wide range of services, business success, and growth do not necessarily mean that your personal life is over. The tools available today, if you reach for them, will help you turn your work into a perfectly functioning mechanism, and you will remain a smart supervisor who will set its direction.

Issues such as property preparation and cleaning, marketing activities, mailing, newsletters, employee supervision. You can have everything in one place with the ability to view it at any time. In addition, there is an online booking system, i.e., booking management, guest care before, during, and after their stay, or collecting fees for rentals, additional services, and much more. You no longer have to keep an eye on these areas because they are all automated in your application—the BedBooking rental management system.

Conclusions

Due to the overall attractiveness of running a business in the tourism industry, as well as its undoubted profitability, it is worth analyzing your own possibilities in this area. Especially if you also own land that would be ideal for one of the businesses discussed above. However, don’t forget about a well-developed business plan and tools such as a booking calendar to catch up with and surpass the competition, rather than remaining on the “runway.”