Thewedding industryin India holds immense potential and is poised to become a key driver to push theeconomic growth,Tourism MinisterGajendra Singh Shekhawatsaid on Friday. He was addressing a gathering after inaugurating the 1stWedding Tourism Summit& Expo hosted here by thePHD Chamber of Commerceand Industry (PHDCCI).
Age-wise, about 54 per cent of India’s population is under 30 years. And a large part of household income is spent on weddings, the minister said.
“And, if we consider those aged 25 and under, about 68 crore people in India are eligible to get married in the next few years, creating huge potential for the wedding industry,” Shekhawat was quoted as saying in a statement issued by the PHDCCI.
The wedding industry in the country holds huge potential and is set to become an important driver of economic growth, the minister said.
New expressways and tourist site facilities are boosting tourism and creating jobs, says Minister Nitin Gadkari. The government is developing 18 tourist destinations to enhance tourism. The FHRAI conference discussed sustainability and trends in the hospitality industry. Wedding tourism was noted as a growth opportunity, emphasizing direct flights, simple visa processes, and unique travel plans.
“If we combine tourism with the wedding industry and leverage existing infrastructure, we can multiply this sector’s growth manifold,” he added.
Following the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to develop tourism in a mission mode, the ministry in August last year unveiled an ambitious campaign aimed at showcasing India as a premier wedding destination on the global stage.
The Prime Minister, last year, said that the country needed a movement like ‘Wed in India‘ along the lines of ‘Made in India’.
PHDCCI president Hemant Jain said the grandeur of Indian weddings, combined with a trend of destination weddings, offers immense tourism potential.
“The global wedding industry is valued at USD 300 billion, with India’s market alone worth USD 50 billion, growing at 20-25 per cent annually,” he was quoted as saying in the statement.
Destination weddings, blending tourism and celebrations are now a multi-billion dollar industry, boosting sectors like hospitality and aviation, it said.
