Govt plans to attract both desi and international couples to make India the global wedding destination, ET TravelWorld

After Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s call for a “wed in India” movement, the Union Tourism Ministry is gearing up to launch a new campaign, “India says I do”, on a large scale for not only encouraging affluent Indian families to host weddings within the country but also to draw foreign couples to tie the knot on Indian soil, a TOI report stated.

According to a report by KPMG, the Indian wedding market was estimated to generate Rs 3-4 lakh crore annually a few years ago, and the current figures are believed to be even higher. A considerable portion of this spending occurs during lavish destination weddings held abroad.

Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) had predicted a staggering expenditure of Rs 4.7 lakh crore on 38 lakh weddings during the period from November 23 to December 15, marking a 25 per cent increase from the previous year. This includes expenses on various wedding essentials such as jewelry, attire, venues, gifts, and catering.

The “India says I do” campaign is being planned by the Ministry of Tourism, emphasizing the vast infrastructure and diverse venues available across the country. These range from enchanting palaces, forts, and havelis to banquet halls catering to different budget brackets. The objective is not only to position India as a premier wedding destination for its citizens but also to attract a global clientele.

An anonymous senior government official affirmed the impending launch of the campaign, stating, “The ministry is finalizing contours of ‘India says I do’ which will showcase the massive infrastructure and available venues ranging from dreamy palaces, forts and havelis to banquet halls in all price brackets. The aim is to showcase India as a wedding destination for not just the desis but foreigners too.”

Luxury hotels in India are already offering wedding packages reaching several crores. Popular wedding destinations within the country include Rajasthan, particularly Udaipur, Jodhpur, and Goa. The ministry has commenced discussions with key stakeholders in the wedding industry, including hotel operators, to define the details of the campaign.

Indian families have been known to splurge on weddings abroad, reserving entire five-star hotels in European capitals for their celebrations. With neighboring international destinations actively courting rich Indian families, the local tourism industry has also recognized weddings as a significant draw for Indian travelers.

Prime Minister Modi’s push for “wed in India” has already influenced some affluent families. An aircraft charter operator, speaking anonymously, disclosed receiving cancellations for wedding charters from South India to the Gulf. These cancellations came from business families unwilling to take any chances, indicating a shift in preferences due to Modi’s initiative. The surge in wedding charters from India, witnessed post-COVID, has declined as affluent families now seek to break away for 3-4 days within the country.