By Simon Nare
Environmentally friendly traveling, eco-tourism and sustainable building practices are some of the topics that will dominate Africa’s inaugural Glamping Expo in Johannesburg on Friday and Saturday.
Glamping, which is luxury camping that combines outdoor experiences in upscale accommodation, is fast becoming popular in South Africa.
Instead of pitching your own tent, you can stay in stylish, fully furnished tents and other unique structures equipped with amenities like a comfortable bed, private bathrooms and kitchens.
Organiser Gugu Sithole told Inside Traveler that the aim of the expo was to showcase how glamping was transforming the tourism industry and exchange ideas on how to grow the sector and popularise it.
Sithole said the exhibition would be attended by tourism leaders, sustainable travel brands and glamping innovators.
Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille was meant to open the exhibition, but due to a Cabinet meeting, she has delegated an official from her department to read her speech.
Sithole is the founder and CEO Glamping Adventure. Her dream is to see the sector grow as it has internationally, with more people opting to have new travel experiences instead of staying in hotels.
She said the event presented an opportunity for role players and the movement as whole to take glamping to another level.
Glamping was also an opportunity for people from rural areas, who had acres of land to build accommodation structures for travellers who preferred stay away from cities and be close to nature.
Sithole said land owners would gain knowledge from experts during panel discussions on how to navigate barriers that stood between them and getting funding to build unique structures for guests. They would also learn how to be compliant and attract investors.
“This is a first for Africa and a proud moment for our tourism industry. This groundbreaking event will spotlight glamping—the fusion of glamour and camping—as a fast-growing, eco-conscious travel trend that aligns with the G20’s key priorities: climate action, innovation and inclusive economic growth.
“Glamping is really gaining traction. Travelers… want eco-friendly stays, they want sustainable accommodation, so it is definitely in an upward trajectory,” said Sithole.
She added that because South Africa has placed solidarity, equality and sustainability at the centre of its G20 Presidency, the Glamping Expo offered a powerful platform to showcase sustainable tourism that benefited the industry, people and the planet.
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