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Unlock This CourseA homestay is when a tourist stays in a local person's home, usually as a paying guest. It's not just about having a bed it's about experiencing real, everyday life in another culture. Think of it like being a temporary member of someone's family.
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Airbnb, founded in 2008 in San Francisco, revolutionised homestays globally. By 2024, Airbnb had over 7 million listings in more than 220 countries. Many listings are rooms in a host's actual home a modern version of the traditional homestay. In Japan, the government introduced the Minpaku Law (2018) to regulate homestay-style rentals, showing how popular and significant they've become. Tourists using Airbnb in Tokyo or Kyoto often report feeling far more connected to Japanese culture than those staying in international hotel chains.
Homestays appeal to a very specific type of traveller. Understanding the tourist profile helps in exam answers.
Students learning Spanish, French or Mandarin often do homestays to practise the language daily. Organisations like EF Education arrange thousands of these each year.
Tourists who want to go beyond the tourist trail. They prefer eating home-cooked meals and joining local festivals over visiting theme parks.
Homestays are often cheaper than hotels, making them popular with backpackers and gap year students who want to stretch their money further.
Camping means sleeping outdoors, usually in a tent, caravan, or motorhome. It's one of the oldest and most widespread forms of tourism accommodation. From a basic field in Wales to a luxury safari tent in Kenya camping covers a huge range of experiences.
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Glastonbury Festival in Somerset is one of the world's most famous temporary camping events. Around 200,000 people camp on-site each year, making it one of the UK's largest temporary accommodation setups. Campers bring their own tents and stay for up to 5 nights. The festival generates over £100 million for the local economy. It perfectly illustrates how camping can be a major driver of tourism, even if it's temporary and basic.
Glamping has exploded in popularity since the 2010s. It combines the appeal of being in nature with the comfort of proper accommodation. It's particularly popular in the UK, where rainy weather makes traditional camping less appealing!
In Maasai Mara, Kenya, luxury safari camps like Angama Mara charge over $1,500 per night. Guests sleep in tented suites with panoramic views of the savannah, private decks and gourmet meals. This is glamping at its most extreme combining wildlife tourism with five-star comfort.
Luxury accommodation is at the very top end of the market. It's defined not just by comfort, but by exceptional service, exclusive locations, unique experiences and attention to every tiny detail. Guests pay a premium and expect perfection.
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The Burj Al Arab in Dubai is often called the world's only 7-star hotel (though this isn't an official rating). Built on an artificial island and shaped like a sail, it opened in 1999. Every room is a suite, with the cheapest starting at around $1,000 per night. Guests arrive by helicopter or Rolls-Royce. It has 9 restaurants, a private beach and a butler for every room. The Burj Al Arab is a perfect example of how luxury accommodation becomes a tourist attraction in itself people visit Dubai partly just to see it.
Luxury isn't just about expensive furniture. Examiners want you to understand what genuinely separates luxury from standard accommodation.
High staff-to-guest ratios. Personal butlers, 24-hour room service and staff who remember your name and preferences.
Overwater bungalows in the Maldives, mountain lodges in the Swiss Alps, or private island resorts in the Caribbean.
Private dining, spa treatments, helicopter tours and curated cultural experiences not available to regular tourists.
Budget accommodation is affordable lodging that focuses on providing the basics a clean, safe place to sleep without the extras. It's not about being uncomfortable; it's about being smart with money. Budget travel is one of the fastest-growing sectors in tourism.
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ibis is owned by the French company Accor and is one of the world's largest budget hotel chains, with over 1,200 hotels in 60 countries. A typical ibis room costs between £50–£90 per night in the UK. Rooms are small but clean, with Wi-Fi, a private bathroom and a simple breakfast option. ibis targets business travellers, city-break tourists and anyone who wants reliability without paying for luxury.
Japan's capsule hotels were invented in Osaka in 1979. Each guest gets a small pod roughly 2m x 1m with a mattress, TV screen and light. Shared bathrooms and lounges are provided. Prices can be as low as £20–£30 per night in Tokyo. They're popular with salarymen who miss the last train, budget tourists and travellers who enjoy the novelty. The 9h (Nine Hours) chain in Tokyo is a modern, design-led version that has made capsule hotels fashionable again.
Eco-friendly accommodation (also called sustainable accommodation) is designed to minimise its impact on the natural environment. As climate change becomes more urgent, this sector is growing rapidly. It's not just a trend it's becoming a key part of responsible tourism.
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It's not just about having recycling bins. Truly eco-friendly accommodation goes much further.
Solar panels, wind turbines and energy-efficient lighting. Some eco-lodges are completely off-grid, generating all their own power from renewable sources.
Rainwater harvesting, low-flow showers and greywater recycling systems. In drought-prone areas like South Africa, this is critical.
Hiring local staff, buying local food and supporting local conservation projects. True eco-tourism benefits the people who live there, not just the environment.
Feynan Ecolodge in the Dana Biosphere Reserve, Jordan, is widely regarded as one of the world's best eco-lodges. It is 100% solar powered, lit by candles at night and has no TVs or air conditioning. All food is locally sourced and the lodge employs only people from the surrounding Bedouin communities. Guests can go stargazing, hike with local guides and learn about traditional Bedouin culture. It has won multiple international awards for sustainable tourism. Nightly rates are around $100–$150 proving eco-friendly doesn't have to mean expensive.
In your exam, you may be asked to compare accommodation types. Here's a clear summary to help you structure your answers.
Homestay: Cultural immersion, indoors, host family.
Camping: Outdoor, independent, nature-focused. Both can be budget-friendly, but homestays offer more human connection.
Luxury: High cost, exceptional service, exclusive experiences.
Budget: Low cost, basic facilities, standardised quality. Both serve their markets well just very different tourists.
Eco-friendly accommodation can overlap with luxury (e.g. Feynan) or budget (e.g. simple eco-campsites). The defining feature is environmental responsibility, not price.
When comparing accommodation types in an exam, always think about: cost, location, facilities, target market and environmental impact. Use real examples to back up your points examiners love specific case studies like Feynan Ecolodge or the Burj Al Arab. If asked to evaluate, always give both advantages AND disadvantages before reaching a conclusion.