Kingdom to set new records in Indian weddings this year

Bahrain Tourism and Exhibition Authority (BTEA) is confident of setting new records in the number of Indian weddings and the revenue earnings from the Indian wedding business to Bahrain’s economy this year. The country has played host to more than 17 big Indian weddings between April 2017 and 2019, receiving about 6,000 Indian guests and contributing USD 22 million to its economy. The country had recognised wedding tourism as a potential segment in 2016 and started promoting itself as a preferred wedding destination through a dedicated incentive programme called Island Weddings Bahrain since April 2017.

Since the programme’s launch, India has been a target source market. Dr Ali Follad, tourism advisor, Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority said: “We are confident of setting records in Indian destination weddings by fourth quarter of this year and first three months of 2020,” Mr Follad said. “What we offer to our wedding guests is a unique partnership. BTEA acts as eyes and ears of the wedding organisers from the time they come scouting for destination.

“We offer complimentary visa, arrange special rates from the airlines, take them to the right hotel, arrange professional DMCs, etc. so that they feel confident and at the same time relaxed,” he added. A delegation from the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) recently participated in the Vogue Wedding Show 2019 held in New Delhi, India, for a period of three days, from 2 to 4 August 2019. This comes as part of the BTEA’s efforts to promote the Kingdom of Bahrain through participating in various exhibitions and events that highlight the Kingdom of Bahrain and its unique offerings, further strengthening its position on the global tourism map.

Vogue Wedding Show 2019 is one of the largest events held which brings together leading Indian and international brands and attracts a large number of visitors including Non-Resident Indian families (NRI). The event attracts more than 2,300 families, 6,000 guests from more than 70 Indian cities and NRI families. Through its participation, BTEA strives to promote and further enhance the Kingdom of Bahrain’s position as a leading destination for weddings and celebrations while demonstrating the Kingdom’s vast potential to attract couples due to its luxury hotels in addition to its tourist and historic attractions.

The BTEA has successfully held various wedding ceremonies and celebrations that have contributed significantly to the Kingdom’s tourism sector, further increasing its contribution to the GDP. In addition, the authority continues to steer its efforts towards enhancing the Kingdom’s position as an ideal destination due to its promising infrastructure for hosting ceremonies and encouraging tourism.