Space tourism: what impact on holiday rentals?

Pack your bags… and your pressure suit! Space tourism, long dismissed as science fiction, is slowly becoming a reality. But what consequences could this new form of tourism have for holiday rentals? Let's set off together on a journey through the stars… and the property market of the future.

What is space tourism?

Space tourism covers all the activities that allow non-professionals, tourists like you and me but with a slightly beefier bank balance, to travel beyond the Earth's atmosphere.

That includes:

• Suborbital flights (a few minutes of weightlessness, an express return trip)
• Orbital stays (think space station hotel)
• And, one day, why not… stays on the Moon or Mars

The concept is nothing new: back in the 2000s, the International Space Station had already welcomed a handful of wealthy tourists. But the idea has genuinely opened up (just a little) thanks to the arrival of private companies such as SpaceX, Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic.

How does space tourism work?

Unlike a Ryanair flight, where the only preparation involves working out whether your bag really is 40 cm, a space flight calls for slightly more… technical logistics.

Training the tourists

Before floating off among the stars, tourists have to go through training (relax… it is no longer as gruelling as the programme for professional astronauts).

The stages include:

• Weightlessness simulations
• Learning anti-G postures
• Safety lessons
• And of course… the art of taking the best possible photo of Earth from space

The flight itself

Depending on the operator, flights can be:

Suborbital flights last barely ten minutes in space, but the view is worth the trip. Orbital flights are counted in days spent in orbit. As for interplanetary travel, Moon trip or Mars trip, patience is still required.

The cost of space tourism: how much to reach for the stars?

Brace yourself: space tourism currently costs between 250,000 € and 55 million € per person, depending on the type of trip.

Yes, it stings. A lot.

• Virgin Galacticoffers suborbital flights at around 450,000 €.
• Blue Originsits in a similar price range, sometimes higher depending on the auctions.
• SpaceX, meanwhile, offers orbital stays running into several tens of millions of euros.

But as with every emerging technology, prices should come down over time.

After all, remember what a plasma television cost in 2003…

Here is what those amounts actually cover, by type of trip, with the operators mentioned above:

Type of trip	Time in space	Price per person	Operator mentioned
Suborbital flight	About ten minutes	Around €450,000	Virgin Galactic
Suborbital flight sold at auction	About ten minutes	Similar prices, sometimes higher	Blue Origin
Orbital stay	Several days in orbit	Several tens of millions of euros	SpaceX
Lunar or Martian trip	Not available to date	Not disclosed	Projects under study
Market as a whole	From a few minutes to several days	From €250,000 to €55 million	All operators

Setting up space tourism: challenges and innovations

Space tourism does not come out of nowhere: it requires colossal infrastructure.

Spaceports!

Yes, you read that correctly: the airports of the future are called spaceports.

The first ones have already appeared in the United States and in other countries investing in this new type of tourism.

Reusable craft

To bring costs down, companies are betting on reusable rockets, rather as if you could reuse a firework (please do not try this at home).

Space stations inhabited by tourists

Plans for space hotels are also floating around on the drawing board, quite literally.

Just imagine for a moment:

The plans sketch out a suite with a view of Earth, a zero-gravity spa and a bar where the cocktails float in transparent bubbles.

We can laugh about it today… but give it a few decades.

Space tourism and holiday rentals: what is the connection?

Here is the big question: what impact could space tourism have on holiday rentals here on Earth?

Because even if our guests will not all be heading into orbit tomorrow, the emergence of this new form of tourism could change a great deal.

Here are the possible shifts.

1⃣ New competition… but very high in the sky

Let's be honest: traditional holiday rentals are not about to lose their guests to an orbital hotel tomorrow.

But in the long run, the arrival of an ultra-premium tourism segment could influence:

Over the long run, this ultra-premium segment raises guest expectations, the standards of luxury and service innovation.

The holidaymaker of 2050 might compare your hot tub with the one… in a space hotel (where the water does not even stay at the bottom ).

2⃣ "Space" destinations on Earth are set to become fashionable

Tourism is expected to soar around the areas linked to space travel, in particular:

The rise will concentrate around spaceports, training centres and launch viewing areas.

Any region that hosts a spaceport will undoubtedly become a new tourist hub.

Rather like Cape Canaveral in Florida, but multiplied by ten.

Owners of holiday rentals located near these future facilities could see their market take off.

3⃣ A new type of very wealthy guest

Space tourism attracts a rare clientele:

This clientele is very well off, keen on exclusive experiences and looking for cutting-edge technology.

These guests may also be looking for:

These travellers will also be looking for high-tech villas, design-led accommodation and premium experiences before or after their flight.

Something like a "pre-holiday" or "post-holiday" around their space adventure.

4⃣ An impact on technology expectations in rentals

Tourists who have flown into space will obviously not want to come back to:

Finding an old-fashioned door key

Connecting to Wi-Fi that works whenever it feels like it

Sleeping on a mattress from 2001 (A Space Odyssey of discomfort)

In time, space tourism could push rentals to:

In time, space tourism could push rentals to modernise their equipment, add automation and build in immersive experiences, from virtual reality to night-time observatories.

The bar will be set even higher. Literally.

5⃣ An influence on rental marketing

As space tourism grows, new marketing strategies will emerge, such as:

Expect space-themed accommodation, packages that pair a stay with a launch viewing, and immersive VR experiences echoing orbital travel.

Even the listing descriptions will become more cosmic:

"Sleep in our cosmic suite with a view of the stars, without ever leaving Earth."

6⃣ New collaborations

Holiday rental owners could strike up partnerships with:

Possible partnerships range from space companies to specialist agencies, by way of training centres.

Picture a "night + zero-gravity simulator" package…

There will be plenty to draw in thrill-seekers after a one-of-a-kind experience.

Holiday rentals on the Moon: science fiction or future reality?

Plans for lunar and Martian hotels do exist.

And while we are not yet renting out a studio flat advertised as "Crater view, ideal for watching Earth rise", the research is serious.

In the very long term, holiday rentals could become… interplanetary.

Conclusion: one small step for man, one giant leap for holiday rentals

Space tourism is only just beginning, but the way it develops could profoundly reshape the world of tourism on Earth.

Holiday rentals, for their part, will have to:

Holiday rentals will have to adapt to new expectations, make the most of new tourist flows and innovate to offer ever more memorable experiences.

An exciting (and slightly futuristic) future awaits us.

And even if we are not all lifting off tomorrow, one thing is certain: space tourism is going to redefine the way we travel… and the way we rent our holidays.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a tourist flight into space cost? Between €250,000 and €55 million per person, depending on the type of trip. Virgin Galactic sells suborbital flights at around €450,000, Blue Origin sits in the same range and sometimes higher depending on the auctions, and an orbital stay with SpaceX runs into tens of millions of euros. As with any emerging technology, those prices should come down over time.

How long does a tourist trip to space last? A suborbital flight lasts only about ten minutes in space, a quick round trip with a few minutes of weightlessness. Orbital flights are counted in days spent in orbit. Lunar or Martian stays will have to wait: the projects exist, the trips do not.

Do you need training before you go? Yes, though nothing comparable to a professional astronaut's preparation. Tourists go through weightlessness simulations, anti-G posture practice and safety classes. The rest of the programme is mostly about getting a decent photo of Earth.

Will space tourism cost me bookings? No, nobody is cancelling a week in a country cottage for an orbital hotel tomorrow morning. The effect is indirect: an ultra-premium segment pulls guest expectations, luxury standards and the pace of innovation in services upwards. The bar rises, the guests do not leave.

Which regions stand to gain the most? Those hosting a spaceport, a training centre or a launch viewing area. A region with that kind of infrastructure becomes a tourist hub: the model already exists around Cape Canaveral, in Florida. Owners located near these future sites are the first to be affected.

What can I actually do with this in my own property? Three directions stand out. Upgrade the equipment, because a plain door key, temperamental Wi-Fi and a tired mattress go down badly with guests used to cutting-edge experiences. Work on the story, with space-themed stays, a package tied to watching a launch or a stargazing spot. And build partnerships with space companies, specialist agencies or training centres, along the lines of a night plus a weightlessness simulator.