# Slum-Inspired Lavish Resorts The Shanty Town Resort is the Luxurious Way to Live Poor By Malika Renee Butss | Published 2013-11-27 | Unique Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/shanty-town References: [odditycentral](http://www.odditycentral.com/pics/slum-like-african-resort-gives-rich-tourists-a-taste-of-hard-life.html) The Shanty Town Resort takes the old saying “take a walk in someone else’s shoes” to an entirely new meaning. This high-end resort is made up entirely of shanties; small huts made out of old corrugated iron sheets. Shanties are the usual dwelling place for the lowest class and are lacking in basic survival essentials. Apart of the five star Emoya Estate reserve and spa in South Africa, Shanty Town is a luxury resort where the rich pay to live like the poor. A week or more here and you get to experience the life of the less fortunate with a few minor lavish adjustments. Though this resort may look as if it is a community full of shanty huts they are all equipped with free WiFi, running water, electricity, clean beds, under-floor heating *and* a TV. This resort is a pretty bizarre way to get the feeling of empathy across. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.2/10 - Popularity: 64% | Activity: 54% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Africa ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Unique](https://www.trendhunter.com/unique) > [Bizarre](https://www.trendhunter.com/bizarre) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Slum Chic:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Designing luxury experiences that simulate the visual and sensory aspects of slum living while providing modern amenities and comfort. - **Poverty Tourism:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Creating guided tours or resort experiences that allow affluent individuals to temporarily immerse themselves in the culture and lifestyle of economically disadvantaged communities. - **Empathy Tourism:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Developing immersive experiences that foster empathy and understanding by giving privileged individuals a taste of the challenges faced by marginalized communities. ### Where This Applies - **Hospitality:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Transforming the concept of luxury accommodations by incorporating unconventional themes and experiences that challenge societal norms. - **Travel:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Introducing alternative forms of tourism centered around immersive, experiential journeys that provide unique insights into different social and economic realities. - **Entertainment:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Creating interactive and thought-provoking entertainment experiences that raise awareness about social issues and encourage empathy among audiences. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Ultra-Luxe Overwater Resorts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-private-reserve.md) - [Luxe Tented Biophilic Resorts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/naviva.md) - [Filmic Swamp Accommodations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/stay-at-shreks-swamp.md) - [Destination-Inspired Shampoos](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/shampoohotel.md) - [One-Star Hotel Installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/one-star-hotel-riklin.md) - [Bedouin Tent-Inspired Resorts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/aw2.md) - [Themed Hotel Rooms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/island-shangri-la.md) - [Tranquil Suspended Hanging Retreats](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ardh-architect.md) - [Emergency Refuge Shelter Replicas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/emergency-refuge-shelter.md)