Glamping and the Development of Sustainable Tourism: A Portuguese Case Study

The relationship between sustainable tourism and glamping is the most effective means for the correct sustainable development of a tourist destination. Sustainable tourism is a way to develop activities in the context of an environmental space, without harming natural resources. Sustainability is driven by the operationalization of a planning model that aims to privilege all its dimensions, joining the concept of Sustainable Development and Accessible Tourism. In short, these concepts function as a way of integrating tourist use, improving the living conditions of local communities and preserving the environment. Tourism plays an important role in the world economy due to the potential of territories (material and immaterial resources). With the natural evolution of tourism comes sustainable tourism and, within the concept of sustainable tourism, ecotourism. This tourism segment is increasingly important and one of the fastest-growing new types of tourism. In this context, glamping is a recent and yet unexplored concept that derives from nature tourism. It emerges as a new trend where glamour is combined with camping. As a result, holidaymakers want to experience memorable moments in which they are in contact with nature without losing their essential comfort and the luxury of higher quality accommodation. This manuscript is a preliminary, qualitative approach to the Portuguese context and some cases will be presented (five cases) that illustrate the importance of glamping for the development of sustainable tourism. In an interdisciplinary perspective, this research presents inputs for tourism, marketing and sustainable development. At the end, suggestions for future research will be presented.