GOA TO BOOST WEDDING TOURISM WITH GOA WEDDING SHOW
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Realising the potential that the destination wedding market holds, and in a bid to strengthen the state’s presence in the segment, Goa Tourism has decided to host its first ‘Goa Wedding Show’ on 16 and 17 August 2014 at The Grand Ballroom, Delhi. This was announced at a press conference in Mumbai last week, presided over by Dilip Parulekar, Minister of Tourism, Govt. of Goa; Shilpa Shetty Kundra, Chairperson, Satyug Gold (sponsors of the event); Raj Kundra, CEO, Satyug Gold; fashion designer Wendell Rodricks; Nilesh Cabral, Chairman, Goa Tourism Development Corporation; and Nikhil Desai, Managing Director, Goa Tourism Development Corporation.
The Goa Wedding Show 2014 aims at boosting tourism in Goa by tapping into the emerging destination wedding market in India. Exhibitors will include wedding planners, hotels, event managers, vendors, fashion designers, spas, travel agencies, hotels, photographers/videographers, hair and make-up artists and artist managers. The organisers hope that this experience will help increase trade opportunities for local vendors in Goa.
Parulekar said “The Indian wedding market is valued at US$38 billion a year and is expected to grow 25-30 percent annually. We hope that this initiative will serve as a platform to bring together the best of Goa and showcase what makes the state such a viable wedding destination. We are optimistic about the success of this event and plan to make it an annual property.”
Shetty Kundra added, “A wedding is one of the most important moments in a girl’s life and the destination is as important as the occasion itself. Goa is one of my favourite destinations. The best part about this state is that you have everything right from beaches to history and a lot of nature. I have attended several weddings in Goa and each has been different from the other. And every time I have returned with a sense of amazement that redefines my perception of a dream wedding.”
Rodricks, who has witnessed and been a part of several weddings in Goa, remarked, “Organising your dream wedding takes a certain amount of time and it is heartening to note that you can get all that you want under one roof in Goa. According to me, this along with the state’s natural beauty and varied landscapes makes it a dream wedding destination.”