EEMA joins forces at the 1st PHDCCI Wedding Tourism Summit to Shape India’s Wedding Tourism Future

by  EVENTFAQS Bureau Industry Watch | October 23, 2024 | News

EEMA PHDCCI Wedding Tourism Summit

The Event and Entertainment Management Association (EEMA) partnered with PHDCCI for their maiden edition of Wedding Tourism Summit & Expo, held from October 18-19, 2024. This event, garnered participation from the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India and various state tourism boards, showcased India’s potential in the $50 billion wedding tourism industry.

Samit Garg, President EEMA, highlighted India’s opportunity to become the world's top wedding destination, emphasizing the need for collaboration with industry and government to create seamless wedding experiences. The sessions opened with President Garg, addressing the audience alongside Chief Guest Mugdha Sinha (IAS), Director General, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India and Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, the Hon'ble Minister of Tourism & Culture.

EEMA’s partnership in the summit showcased its commitment to driving growth and innovation in India's wedding tourism sector. Samit Garg emphasized, "EEMA's commitment to developing India's wedding tourism sector is demonstrated through our contributions to the Incredible India campaign of “India Says I Do”, the comprehensive Wedding Tourism Strategy draft presented last year, and our active participation in the 1st PHDCCI Wedding Tourism Summit & Expo along with many others in the last 15 months. It is 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."

EEMA members contributed valuable insights at the summit. Prerana Agarwal Saxena, Lead of EEMA’s Wedding Council of India, discussed strategies to enhance India’s profile in destination weddings and the success of campaigns like “India Says I Do.” She noted the summit's importance in exploring innovative marketing approaches to showcase India's diverse wedding destinations. Prerana Agarwal Saxena stated, "The Inaugural PHDCCI Wedding Tourism Summit & Expo provided a vital platform to discuss innovative marketing strategies to put India on the global map for destination weddings. Building on the success of campaigns like ‘India Says I Do’ under the Incredible India flagship campaign and leveraging digital tools and influencer engagement, we can effectively showcase India's diverse wedding destinations to a global audience. This will drive wedding tourism and boost the entire sector."

The EEMA delegation, including Ankur Kalra (General Secretary, EEMA), Taranbir Sahani (Secretary, EEMA), and Jagmohan Singh (Treasurer, EEMA), engaged with PHDCCI dignitaries and industry stakeholders. Key insights were shared by Vandana Mohan (The Wedding Design Company) on streamlining regulations and aligning policy for wedding tourism, Rajiv Jain (Founder & Director, Rashi Entertainment) on large-scale event management, Martin Emmanuel (Founder & MD, Razzmatazz Ventures) on luxury wedding concepts, and Pritesh Sharma (Founder & CEO, Mapsor Experiential Weddings) on personalized experiences. Additionally, Nitin Arora (Founder, Katalyst Entertainment) emphasized the role of entertainment in guest satisfaction, while Vinod Bhandari (Managing Director, Wedding Xtraordinaire LLP) discussed planning strategies to enhance guest experiences. Aparajita Chowdhury (A2Z Event Promotions & Entertainment), representing EEMA, was also part of the delegation.

Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, the Hon'ble Minister of Tourism & Culture, emphasized the significant potential of India's wedding tourism market, which is valued at $50 billion and growing at 20-25% annually. He highlighted that with a large portion of the population eligible for marriage, the wedding industry could drive economic growth by combining tourism with weddings. He stated, "If we combine tourism with the wedding industry and leverage existing infrastructure, we can multiply this sector's growth manifold."

PHDCCI President Hemant Jain (President, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry) reinforced the significance of the wedding industry, noting that it offers immense tourism potential. He remarked on the grandeur of Indian weddings and the trend of destination weddings, which has turned into a multi-billion-dollar industry boosting sectors like hospitality and aviation. Jain also echoed the Prime Minister's vision for India as a premier wedding destination, referencing the ambitious "Wed in India" campaign launched last year.

The summit featured sessions on policy alignment and regulatory streamlining, with panelists from the Ministry of Tourism and other industry leaders. Discussions on marketing strategies, luxury wedding experiences, and strengthening partnerships across the wedding ecosystem were also held.