Sat Feb 22 14:23:08 UTC 2025: ## India Aims to Boost Lucrative Wedding Tourism Sector

**New Delhi, February 22, 2025** – The Indian government is taking steps to capitalize on the country’s booming wedding tourism industry, estimated at ₹5 lakh crore (approximately $60 billion USD). To streamline the process, the Union Tourism Ministry has urged all states and union territories to simplify and standardize marriage registration procedures, even for couples from different states.

Currently, registration requirements vary widely across states, often requiring at least one partner to be domiciled there for 30 days. The ministry hopes that simplification will attract more couples, both domestic and international, to celebrate their weddings in India.

Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhwat highlighted the industry’s immense potential, citing India’s large young population and the significant portion of household income allocated to weddings. He noted that approximately 68 crore (680 million) people in the 25-and-under age group will be marrying in the coming years.

In 2023, the ministry launched a campaign to promote India as a premier wedding destination globally, showcasing 25 key locations. This initiative, developed in collaboration with industry experts and wedding planners, aims to highlight India’s diverse offerings and appeal to a wide range of wedding aspirations.

Despite the industry’s potential, a recent parliamentary report noted that India hasn’t fully exploited its wedding tourism capabilities. The report recommended promoting multi-day “destination weddings” to maximize economic and ecological benefits. The government’s efforts to simplify registration are a key step towards realizing this untapped potential.

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