Thanks to the Hon’ble PM Modi’s initiatives, around 25-30 crore people have moved from poverty to the middle class in India. With 54% of the population under 30 years old, a large part of household income is spent on weddings. If we consider those aged 25 and under, about 68 crore people in India will be getting married in the next few years, creating huge potential for the wedding industry, said, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Hon’ble Minister of Tourism and Culture, Government of India while speaking at PHDCCI’s 1st Wedding Tourism Summit & Expo, a two-day event being held from 18-19 October 2024.
Hon’ble Minister further emphasized that India’s tourism sector, contributing 7% to GDP and 10-12% to employment, has the potential to grow significantly. With proper use of wedding infrastructure for other events, we can multiply its usage beyond the 70-75 days of the wedding season. If we harness our country’s geographical and cultural diversity alongside this growth, the wedding tourism industry could be a key driver towards contributing $1 trillion to Indian economy.
Mr. Hemant Jain, President, PHDCCI highlighted that India, with its rich diversity of landscapes, cultures and historic venues has long been a dream wedding destination. The grandeur of Indian weddings, combined with the rising trend of destination weddings, offers immense potential for tourism.
He added the global wedding industry is valued at $300 billion, with India’s market alone worth $50 billion, growing at 20-25% annually. Destination weddings, blending tourism and celebrations, are now a multi-billion dollar industry, boosting sectors like hospitality and aviation.
PHDCCI’s 1st Wedding Tourism Summit & Expo is a first-of-its-kind and aims to explore how India can become a leading global wedding destination through the right policies, infrastructure, and promotion.
Mr. Anil Parashar, Senior Member – Tourism & Hospitality Committee, PHDCCI discussed that India’s tourism industry is a key pillar of our economy. In 2023, India welcomed over 15 million foreign tourists, generating over $30 billion in foreign exchange earnings. He added, within this broader landscape, wedding tourism has emerged as a major driver of growth and diversification. According to a report published by the Economist, the wedding industry is the fourth-largest industry in India, recording a huge spending of US$ 130 billion per year. Its substantial scale provides employment opportunities for millions, he added.
Dr. Ranjeet Mehta, CEO & Secretary General, PHDCCI said, initiatives by the government of India, such as streamlining the visa process have led to a significant increase in tourism last year, driven by improved accessibility and infrastructure development in the country. Places like Rajasthan are already on the list of top wedding destinations. With the active participation of people, we look forward to suggestions, government’s focus and increased importance placed on wedding tourism in the country, added Dr. Mehta.
Mr. Samit Garg, President, Event & Entertainment Management Association informed that EEMA’s commitment to developing India’s wedding tourism sector is demonstrated through our contributions to the Incredible India campaign, the comprehensive Wedding Tourism Strategy draft and our active participation in the 1st PHDCCI Wedding Tourism Summit & Expo. It’s a powerful platform for aligning policy, industry practices and innovation to unlock the true potential of this industry and establish India as a leading global destination for weddings.
The vote of thanks was delivered Mr. Rajan Sehgal, Senior Member – Tourism & Hospitality Committee, PHDCCI. The inaugural session was followed by the inauguration of the exhibition by the Chief Guest.
Session highlights from Day 1
Marketing Wedding Destinations: Strategies for Global Promotion
This session, moderated by Ms. Prerana Saxena, Lead, EEMA’s Wedding Council of India, explored how India can leverage digital platforms and influencer marketing to attract international wedding clients. Ms. Khyati Nayak from Gujarat Tourism and Ms. Preeti Srivastava from Uttar Pradesh Tourism shared case studies on how their states have successfully promoted niche wedding destinations. Mr. Vinod Bhandari of Wedding Xtraordinaire LLP emphasized the importance of tapping into unique locations to offer bespoke wedding experiences.
Bridging Policy and Practice: Streamlining Regulations for Wedding Tourism
Moderated by Mr. Samit Garg, President of EEMA, the panel featured senior government officials like Ms. Mugdha Sinha (IAS) and Dr. Abhay Sinha, along with industry expert Ms. Vandana Mohan, Founder of The Wedding Design Company and Mr. Bimal Jain, GST Expert. They discussed the need for fast-tracking event permits, tax incentives and clearer policies to facilitate seamless international wedding planning in India.
From Plate to Memory: Culinary Trends Shaping Wedding Experiences
Chef Gautam Chaudhry led the discussion with renowned chefs like Chef Davinder Kumar and Chef Kunal Kapur, alongside Mr. Sanjay Khullar of Seasons Group. The panel discussed the importance of integrating regional and global cuisines and how innovative catering concepts can create lasting memories for wedding guests.
Session highlights from Day 2
Crafting Excellence: Standardization and Talent Creation for the Wedding Sector
Ms. Shalini S Sharma, Assistant Secretary General of PHDCCI, hosted a fireside chat with Mr. Sabbas Joseph, Co-Founder of Wizcraft Group, on how to elevate the standards of the Indian wedding industry, emphasizing the need for talent creation and service quality benchmarks to meet international expectations.
Strengthening Partnerships across the Wedding Ecosystem
Moderated by Mr. Parthip Thyagarajan, Co-Founder & CEO of WeddingSutra.com, this session emphasized collaboration across the wedding ecosystem. Industry leaders including Mr. Amit Singh from Radisson Hotel Group and Ms. Priyanka Ahluwalia from The Lalit Suri Hospitality Group discussed how personalized services and cross-sector partnerships ensure a seamless wedding experience. Mr. Nitin Arora of Katalyst Entertainment and Mr. Ramit Batra, Photographer highlighted the importance of working together to execute high-end weddings.
Redefining Luxury Wedding Experiences
Moderated by Mr. Rajnish Rathi, Publisher & Editor of Wedding Affair, the session explored the evolving definition of luxury in the wedding sector. Panellists, Mr. Anshul Sethi, Head of Sales – India at IndiGo; Mr. Pritesh Sharma, Founder & CEO of Mapsor Experiential Weddings; Mr. Martin Emmanuel, Founder and MD of Razzmatazz Ventures, discussed how India can raise the bar for luxury wedding experiences.
Larger than Life Weddings and Experiences
The day concluded with an inspiring session by Mr. Rajeev Jain, Founder of Rashi Entertainment, on creating extravagant weddings that captivate the imagination. As demand for luxury weddings grows, Mr. Jain shared insights into orchestrating grand events and the future trends shaping the Indian wedding market.
Exhibitors included Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, Gujarat Tourism, Uttar Pradesh Tourism, Madhya Pradesh Tourism, Le Meridien New Delhi, InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort, The Lalit, Hotel The Royal Plaza, Aamby Valley City, Hotel Sahara Star, Radisson Hotel Group, Novotel Jaipur Convention Centre, Pullman and Novotel New Delhi Aerocity, IRCTC, STIC Travel Group, View360Degrees and 21 Gun Salute.
The initiative was supported by Knowledge Partner – Event & Entertainment Management Association (EEMA); Media Partners – Wedding Affair, Wed Me Good, Weddingz.in and Travel Mail; along with Association Partners – Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India (ADTOI), Outbound Tour Operators Association of India (OTOAI), Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI), Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), India Convention Promotion Bureau (ICPB), Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) and Tourism India Alliance (TIA).