The Indian wedding tourism industry has been estimated to be around ₹5 lakh crore and is considered a sunshine sector.
| Photo Credit: PTI
To boost wedding tourism, the Centre has asked all States and Union Territories to facilitate an easy and uniform process of marriage registration even for couples other States.
A senior Union Tourism Ministry official said they have written to all States and Union Territories on the same.
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While the requirements for registration of marriages vary from State to State, most require at least one spouse to be domiciled in that State for a minimum period of 30 days.
The Indian wedding tourism industry has been estimated to be around ₹5 lakh crore and is considered a sunshine sector. According to estimates, one crore weddings take place in India every year.
At a recent event, Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhwat said that with 54% of the population under 30 years of age, a large part of household income in India 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 said.
The Tourism Ministry had in 2023 launched an ambitious campaign aimed at showcasing India as a premier wedding destination on the global stage. The campaign began with profiling about 25 key destinations across the country, exploring how India fits into their wedding aspirations in more than one way.
A key highlight of the campaign lies in its collaborative approach, developed in close consultation with industry experts, associations, and seasoned wedding planners. Their feedback has shaped a comprehensive narrative that unravels India’s allure as a wedding tourism destination, addressing diverse aspirations and showcasing the myriad facets of this incredible nation, according to an official statement.
However, in a recent report submitted in the Parliament, the Parliamentary Standing Committee of Transport, Tourism and Culture, has said that India’s huge potential for wedding tourism has not been fully exploited.
The Committee observed that ‘Destination Weddings’ with events and celebrations spread out over many days can offer several benefits to the local economy and local ecosystem and the government should make efforts to promote them.
Published – February 22, 2025 07:53 pm IST