Wedding tourism can add $1 trillion to Indian economy

PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry successfully hosted its 1st Wedding Tourism Summit and Expo from 18 October to 19 October 2024 in Delhi, bringing together top wedding destinations from India and across the globe! The event was inaugurated by Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, with industry leaders, wedding planners, and event managers in attendance.
Addressing the event Minister said “ 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” He further congratulated Mr. Hemant Jain for becoming the new president and appreciated PHDCCI for organizing such an event. He added that while India ranks 24th in the tourism index, this data largely reflects 3-star and above hotels. Figures from the unorganized sector aren’t counted in the statistics, similarly we often count international tourists but overlook the 10-12 lakh domestic pilgrims visiting Kashi, Tirupati, and Ujjain every week, which also goes unrecognized in global projections. This is similar to the wedding sector, which holds great potential beyond the organized industry.

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 tourism and wedding industries could be key drivers toward building a $1 trillion economy.

Shri 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.

The highlight of the summit was an interactive session featuring insights from wedding experts, along with an inspiring address by Ms. Mugdha Sinha, DG Tourism, on key industry topics. A truly unforgettable gathering for the wedding tourism sector!