Skift Research’s report, “Tying the Knot Abroad: Market Sizing Indian Wedding Tourism,” delves into the growing market of Indian couples opting for international destination weddings. The report highlights trends, preferences, and challenges faced by hosts, planners, and businesses involved in organizing these extravagant celebrations overseas. The global wedding industry is seeing a shift as more Indian couples choose international destinations, resulting in a market estimated at $1.9 billion in outbound travel spending, with most weddings averaging around $200,000.
Wedding planners play a crucial role in the success of international destination weddings, as they are often key decision-makers involved in the planning process. The survey data from Skift Research shows that 97% of Indian couples who had international destination weddings in the past year engaged a wedding planner. For businesses looking to capitalize on this trend, forming strategic partnerships and exclusivity agreements with wedding planners can ensure a steady stream of Indian weddings to their venues and services. Accommodation providers, in particular, can benefit by offering competitive rates and tailored packages for bulk bookings to cater to hosts’ preferences for housing guests at a single location.
The report also emphasizes the importance of online booking channels in marketing to the Indian international destination wedding market. There is considerable potential for OTAs and other platforms to engage in targeted marketing efforts to attract this lucrative segment of travelers. While international destination weddings make up a smaller portion of overall Indian weddings, their rapid growth and economic impact cannot be ignored. These weddings not only provide a unique and memorable experience for couples and guests but also significantly contribute to the tourism and hospitality sector, representing over 5% of India’s international travel.
The report offers insights into the scale of the Indian international destination wedding market, reasons why Indian couples choose international destinations for their weddings, key decision-makers involved in planning these weddings, preferred markets for hosting international weddings, latest trends and preferences in planning and booking these weddings, and common challenges faced by hosts, planners, and businesses. For businesses looking to cater to the Indian international destination wedding market, the report provides actionable insights to capitalize on this growing trend.
By subscribing to Skift Research, readers can access a wealth of reports on various topics in the travel industry, including technology, marketing strategy, and deep dives on key travel brands. Subscribers will also have access to proprietary tools such as the Skift Travel Health Index, Skift Travel Company Tracker, Hotel Tech Benchmark, and data from regular traveler surveys. Skift Research’s comprehensive analysis allows businesses to stay informed and make strategic decisions in a rapidly evolving market.