GLAMPING IN ITALY

Kerry Roy

Italy Correspondent, founder of Camp Kátur and Cercio del Desiderio

Kerry Roy

How has the glamping industry been affected by the pandemic where you are?

In Italy, the glamping industry is still small but there are a lot of holiday parks and campsites. Summer locations were fortunate to trade between May and October during 2020 with many local Italian staycation tourists and a small percentage still able visit from countries like Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands whom often drive down and tour through Italy. Unfortunately, the winter resorts, like most countries, have been hit the hardest and unable to trade at all during the second pandemic. I really feel for these resorts and accommodation providers.

What kind of restrictions has the industry been under?

At the start of COVID, all accommodation providers were told to close with many receiving small government funding. In the summer, most sites regained strength but the second wave during winter and spring 2021 has been tougher; the government hasn’t told accommodation providers to close, we can still trade but only to business travellers who can prove they are here for business. Unfortunately, Glamping is often located in the countryside therefore not attracting business travellers like city locations do. The local police do also occasional checkup so it’s very difficult to stay open for zero tourists because we keep falling into red zone lockdown and Italy closed all regional border crossings December until spring maybe later, who knows!

Do you currently face restrictions? If so, when are they set to be lifted?

All of Italy regional border crossings are still closed and may not open until late spring/summer, depending on vaccines and contagion numbers. Northern regions that were once the epicentre for most contagion are now becoming safer zones and in better control, whilst some central and southern Italian regions including my location Abruzzo are in orange and red zones which means you cannot travel outside of your local towns/postcode area. All cafes are takeaway only but in Italy takeaway is popular as places like UK and USA so most have just temporary closed because they get minimal trade for the effort and taxes they still have to pay! All restaurants in Orange and Red zones have to stay closed along with any group events and so forth. Yellow zones can open accommodation and restaurants until early evening, travel anywhere within the same region you live. White zone is almost back to normal, as of this week only Sardinia is the first to reach White zone.

Uncertainty surrounding international travel has caused a surge of domestic holidays in the UK, leading to an increase in the popularity of glamping. Has this occurred where you are?

Our UK site Camp Katur is seeing good strong bookings return for the summer season, weddings unfortunately are still on hold, however enquiries are beginning to peak again but couples are still cautious about paying any deposits just yet. I do feel that outdoor type weddings will surge again in demand as less people wish to hold group gatherings in smaller confined spaces.

In Italy I find that people like to book last minute, last year we had a strong year almost full occupancy but a high percentage book last minute, this seems to be more of an Italian thing that they air more on the side of caution whereas the Brits flock to fill up the diaries with exciting things ahead as soon as the green light is given.

Are there currently any glamping trends that you are seeing?

There is definitely an increased interest in Italians looking to diversify their existing accommodation or Agritourismo business into Glamping, however the bureaucracy in Italy can be much tougher barrier to break through that that of the UK. The UK is much more simplified and Glamping in recent years has become a thing of the norm therefore planning councils, industry guidelines have gained better knowledge and understanding but in Italy it is still very much Alien to the officials that you need to convince and every town small medium or large has its own laws and bureaucracy rules!

I think the boom back in the UK has also triggered interest for existing expats and new home seekers around Italy to jump on the bandwagon, but it’s not so simply as adding a few canvas tents, domes or cabins, there is a lot more to it and Italy has a very strong agricultural export industry, one of the highest in Europe therefore planning here is much stricter so that they can continue to saviour their agricultural lands that they are renowned for.

Any exciting projects that you’d like to talk about?

Where do I start!! We have some very exciting plans and opportunities in the pipeline, but time and money are key drivers. As well as continuing to develop Cerchio Del Desiderio which is around a 3-year project to complete my personal vision. I have a new Investor partner on board to help develop further sites in and around Abruzzo and Italy, so a lot of my time at present is location scouting and discovering more about the tangled web of tourism bureaucracy for the region. We also have the cameras following us again for Channel 4s A New Life In The Sun and potentially our own programme because we have so much going on. However, it is imperative we stay focused and don’t try to run before we can walk as every day is still a learning curve even after being a Glamping owner for almost 10 years.