The inaugural Wed in India expo commenced today, running until May 07, 2024, at the Rambagh Palace in Jaipur.
An initiative of the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, the ‘Wed in India’ expo is being organised jointly with the Department of Tourism, Government of Rajasthan and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) alongside the Great India Travel Bazaar. It is also supported by the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Rajasthan (HRAR), Indian Heritage Hotels Association (IHHA) and the Rajasthan Association of Tour Operators (RATO).
With over 11,000 business meetings scheduled between 275 Foreign Tour Operators (FTOs) from 50+ countries and nearly 200 Indian sellers, the expo serves as a bustling marketplace for fostering partnerships and networking in the wedding tourism sector. Featuring 300 exhibition booths, the event offers a platform for Destination Management Companies (DMCs), state tourism boards, and hotels to showcase their offerings, ranging from luxurious accommodations to bespoke wedding planning services.
Speaking at the event, Manisha Saxena, IAS, Director General of the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, highlighted the cultural and infrastructural developments propelling India’s emergence as a sought-after destination for destination weddings. She said, “Along with cultural aspects of India, the rapid infrastructure development happening across the country, especially improvement in accessibility thanks to number of airports getting doubled in the last few years and improvement in digital and physical connectivity are aiding destination weddings across the world.”
“With its unique blend of natural beauty and cultural traditions which can actually invoke magic in weddings, Rajasthan along with Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Haryana, Kerala, and Goa are favourite destination for Wed-in-India. The Northeast is also fast emerging as a preferred destination especially the tea gardens of Assam, Darjeeling, Siliguri, Mizoram, and Manipur,” she added.
Citing the experience of one of the G20 Tourism Group meetings held in Goa during India’s G20 Presidency, Saxena said, “We catered to all the ministerial delegates in a 500-year-old house which keeps its 200-year-old cutlery. India has several such kinds of assets. We, in the Ministry of Tourism, are in process of documenting this repository of assets both tangible and intangible.”
Delivering her address during the inaugural session, Gayatri Rathore, IAS, Principal Secretary, Department of Tourism, Government of Rajasthan said, “Department of Tourism, Government of Rajasthan is delighted to hold first-ever ‘Wed in India’ expo. Rajasthan has long been a preferred destination for celebrity weddings due to its luxurious and opulent settings. The state’s magnificent palaces forts and havelis converted into luxury heritage hotels provide a regal backdrop for extravagant celebrations. Rajasthan’s world-class hospitality, traditional cuisines and vibrant entertainment create unforgettable experiences for the couples and their guests.”
Setting the tone of the expo, Chetan Vohra, Chair, FICCI Wedding Tourism Taskforce and Managing Director, Wedding Line said, “Hospitality runs in the veins of every Indian and we were raised with one belief, to open our hearts and our homes to every guest as if they were God – something we call “Atithi Deva Bhavo”. The Wed in India summit is a testament to our commitment in making this dream a reality.”
Dipak Deva, Chairperson, FICCI Tourism and Culture Committee and Managing Director, Travel Corporation of India said, “This initiative shall act as an inclusive platform for the diverse stakeholders of the wedding tourism industry, including wedding planners, hoteliers, destination management companies, state governments and policymakers.”
Dr. Jyotsna Suri, Past President, FICCI and CMD, Lalit Suri Hospitality Group said, “This expo is going to be a long way towards making it international. Besides Rajasthan, India has a lot of enticing wedding destinations which are equally beautiful and appealing.”
Sabbas Joesph, Past President, Event and Entertainment Management Association (EEMA) spoke at length about India’s charm, opportunities and challenges to make India the world’s wedding destination.
Proposing the Vote of Thanks, S.K. Pathak, Secretary General, FICCI said, “Indians, both in the country and the diaspora globally, are getting more prosperous. Better to spend more in our own country to benefit our own people and economy. That’s why ‘Wed in India’ is a great initiative.”
During the inaugural session, a ‘Wed in India’ film titled ‘Say I do In India’ was premiered showcasing India’s enchanting destinations and architectural marvels for weddings which attracted huge applause by the audience.
With leading cities of Rajasthan, such as Jaipur, Udaipur and Jodhpur already popular for wedding amongst Indians and foreigners, an audio-visual presentation titled ‘Romance in Rajasthan’ was played showcasing the potential of rural Rajasthan for weddings as well as honeymoons.
A number of panel discussions, including ‘India Awaits you: ‘Evaluating the readiness of India’s wedding ecosystem to face international competition’, ‘Local But Global: India in the NEWS’, ‘Session with International Wedding Planners’ and ‘Getting Inspired: Analyzing success stories and challenges’ are scheduled to take place during the day, wherein the experts will discuss India’s preparedness and opportunities for making India a wedding destination.
Policymakers, key players from the tourism and hospitality industry and tour operators from over 50 countries are participating in the ‘Wed in India’ expo.
It will have sessions on the readiness of India’s wedding ecosystem, dynamics of wedding tourism and its impact on India’s larger tourism industry as well as a comparative study of national and international tourism destinations, a thought-leadership address, a roundtable with national and international wedding tourism stakeholders, networking dinner, and cultural evening.
Representatives of Tourism Boards from various states, including Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, too are participating alongside stalwarts from India’s tourism, travel, and hospitality sectors.
