The Union Tourism Ministry on Sunday said the rapid infrastructure development happening across the country, especially improvement in accessibility due to number of airports getting doubled in last few years besides improvement in digital and physical connectivity are aiding destination weddings across the world.

Speaking during the inauguration of First Wed in India expo at Rambagh Palace in Jaipur, Manisha Saxena (IAS) Director General, Ministry of Tourism, said along with cultural aspects of India the holistic development is a boon for destination wedding which also is a booster to the economy as well as employment.

An initiative of Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, the ‘Wed in India’ expo is being organised jointly with Department of Tourism, Government of Rajasthan and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) alongside the Great India Travel. It is also supported by Hotel and Restaurant Association of Rajasthan (HRAR), Indian Heritage Hotels Association (IHHA) and Rajasthan Association of Tour Operators (RATO).

“With its unique blend of natural beauty and cultural traditionswhich 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,”  Saxena 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-years old house which keeps its 200 years 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 in 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 & 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.” Dr. Jyotsna Suri, Past President, FICCI & 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.”

Policymakers, key players from the tourism and hospitality industry and tour operators from over 50 countries are participating in the ‘Wed in India’ expo.  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.