Feasibility and Implementation Plan for Integrating Glamping into an Existing Campsite in Lefkada, Greece
Vagenas, Andrianos (2026)
2026
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-202604166760
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-202604166760
Tiivistelmä
This product-based thesis evaluates the feasibility of integrating a high-end glamping concept into Poros Beach Camping & Bungalows, a traditional family-owned campsite in Lefkada, Greece, established in 1974. The primary aim of the project is to develop a practical business plan that modernizes the campsite's offerings, breaks the current revenue plateau caused by physical space limitations, and attracts a new demographic of higher-paying "non-campers" without compromising the site's authentic heritage. To support this, the theoretical framework explores shifting consumer preferences toward the experience economy and experiential tourism, while also examining the strategic upscaling and unique generational dynamics involved in modernizing a risk-averse family business.
The study employs a qualitative research methodology, utilizing the Business Model Canvas as the primary strategic tool to visually map the proposed structural and financial changes. Data was collected and analyzed through a triangulation approach: benchmarking local and national luxury competitors, reviewing historical internal business records alongside ELSTAT tourism data, and conducting a direct topographical site assessment of the Mikros Gialos property.
The main findings reveal that installing 15m² A-frame wooden cabins is technically and financially viable. By opting for shared "boutique" bathroom facilities rather than private plumbing, the business avoids soil sealing and protects the mature olive groves, aligning with modern sustainable tourism practices. Financial calculations demonstrate that replacing standard camper pitches with glamping units effectively doubles the nightly revenue on the same physical footprint. Financial calculations show that the capital expenditure for the glamping units enables a rapid break-even, typically achieved within two summer seasons. The thesis concludes that strategic upscaling through glamping is a highly effective method to ensure the business's competitiveness. It successfully balances modern luxury with environmental preservation, ultimately securing the campsite’s financial future for the next generation of management.
The study employs a qualitative research methodology, utilizing the Business Model Canvas as the primary strategic tool to visually map the proposed structural and financial changes. Data was collected and analyzed through a triangulation approach: benchmarking local and national luxury competitors, reviewing historical internal business records alongside ELSTAT tourism data, and conducting a direct topographical site assessment of the Mikros Gialos property.
The main findings reveal that installing 15m² A-frame wooden cabins is technically and financially viable. By opting for shared "boutique" bathroom facilities rather than private plumbing, the business avoids soil sealing and protects the mature olive groves, aligning with modern sustainable tourism practices. Financial calculations demonstrate that replacing standard camper pitches with glamping units effectively doubles the nightly revenue on the same physical footprint. Financial calculations show that the capital expenditure for the glamping units enables a rapid break-even, typically achieved within two summer seasons. The thesis concludes that strategic upscaling through glamping is a highly effective method to ensure the business's competitiveness. It successfully balances modern luxury with environmental preservation, ultimately securing the campsite’s financial future for the next generation of management.