Boundless Trade Opportunity: Promoting Thailand as a dream destination for Indian Weddings

Boundless Trade Opportunity: Promoting Thailand as a dream destination for Indian Weddings

For the past several years, more than 300 Indian couples have traveled to Thailand to get married. Each wedding participated by some 200-500 guests making the spending of each wedding set around 5-10 million baht, that’s an overall value of approximately 1.5 to 3 billion baht combined. Such extravagant  spending makes Indian weddings a rising market for Thai entrepreneurs such as the tourism operator, event organizers, florist, shows and performers, producers of gift and souvenirs, costumes and accessories crafters, to the producer of kitchenwares, all set to capture this immense business opportunity.

Organized as part of the STYLE Bangkok October 2019 at the STYLE de Bangkok Hotel Showcase, located at Hall 102 of BITEC, the Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP), Ministry of Commerce host the enriched seminar entitled “How to Create Products that meet the needs of a niche: Indian wedding”, joined by Mr. Panuwat Jantharajit, former Deputy Commercial Attaché/ Counsellor at Thai Trade Office New Delhi to share his experience in the Indian circle for more than four years.

Mr. Panuwat revealed that the key of success for Thai businessperson is knowledge and understanding of Indian beliefs and cultures which is different in each region. The traditions of an Indian wedding in particular has more details than The Thai weddings and anywhere else in the world.

Former Thai Trade Office New Delhi Deputy Commercial Attaché/ Counsellor added “From my experience working in the Indian community for four years, I found three things that is considered important for Indian people – birth, wedding, and funeral. Indians spend most of their money on the wedding. Unlike Thai or weddings elsewhere; Indian weddings is a traditional ceremony that last 3-7 days. Indian couples travel to Thailand mostly in January-March and October-November after the end of Buddhist Lent which is similar to Thai.

“Indian love the hospitality of Thai peoples as well as our kind gesture. Indian people not only consider price of the goods they purchase but the value of the product. If they see value for family and their loved ones, they are rather happy to pay. So, this is a business opportunity to offer them products that have high value and are meaningful.”

Weddings play a big part in Indian lives as it’s not just a marriage of two person but of the two families. A wedding is also a symbol of a life transition to the householder status which is a second phase of life. Indian weddings feature a number of ceremonies and rituals, plus a series of entertainment and activities to bond the two families together.

A wedding will last anywhere from 3-7 days with 200-500 guests. Typically, the budget starts at 4 million baht up to 10 million baht and approximately 10-15 million baht on each wedding. Therefore, an Indian wedding is a high potential market and is continues to expand. With the support of the Thai Indian Wedding Association and experienced wedding organizers; weddings are planned in dream destinations across Thailand such as Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Hua Hin, Pattaya, and Krabi.

Mr. Panuwat further stated that Indians with high incomes will rent an airplane just to get married in Thailand. Indian weddings are usually participated by an average of 400-500 guests spending around 5-10 million baht making the Indian wedding business that generate some 1.5-3 billion baht of revenue per year.

“This is an ample opportunity for Thai entrepreneurs to craft to the needs of Indian wedding couples, the key is Indian-style with something sparkling. They want quality and value as much as when they are in their homeland.

Indians choose Thailand as their wedding destination for several reasons – quality, pricing and variety of exciting venues. The choice of five-star hotels in India is limited and the cost of organizing the wedding is rather high. In addition, travelling to Thailand from New Delhi is convenient with only a 4 hour flight time similar to travel from New Delhi to Mumbai.

Furthermore, Thailand has its own character and intricacy with comes to weddings. The beautiful scenery makes the wedding romantic and it benefits the type of Indian wedding that is extravagant and colourful. Thai wedding organizers can offer what Indian customers want, something extraordinary, delicate decorations, and the adjustable style of wedding.

Besides, Thailand is globally-recognized as a shopping heaven. After the wedding concludes, couples and their families can enjoy some shopping and travel. Statistics show that Indians spend 25 percent of their expenses on shopping, a double from normal tourists.

Trends of Indian Weddings is just one seminar of all exciting seminars, organized as part of STYLE Bangkok October 2019 at BITEC Bangna until 21 October 2019.

19 October 2019

 - Material Solution by Mr.Junya Kitagawara, Japanese expert.

- “Future Trend 2020” by Mr. Kriya Bilyala, Trend Analyzer and Global Trend Analysis Project Manager, Creative Economy Agency (Public Organization).  

20 October 2019

Techniques for Developing Lifestyle Products for Tourists by Mr. Songpol Nenkanthi, Brand Strategist and Mr. Dusadi Boonchaisri, Founder and Creative Director of Nonnormative

21 October 2019

- “Green Purchasing” by Mr. Anthony La Capara, Senior Vice President – Project EMMA Design & Construction, Singha Estate Public Company Limited

For more information, visit https://www.stylebangkokfair.com/ or dial DITP Call Center at 1169.