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The Hindu wedding season has kicked off in India and the Kingdom of Bahrain, which was awarded the “Most Promising New Destination for Indian Weddings” at the WOW Awards and Convention Asia 2019, organised a familiarisation trip for elite wedding planners last month.
The delegation included companies and agencies from several Indian cities including Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Surat and Jaipur, targeting locations with High Net Worth Individuals (HNWI) and distinguished families. The Bahrain Tourism and Exhibition Authority (BTEA) arranged for meetings between Indian wedding planners and a number of Bahraini vendors and organisations, which included elite five and four-star hotels, Bahraini wedding planners and organisers, travel and tourism service providers, destination management companies and other accommodation venues.
“Through organising regular meetings with Indian wedding planners and agencies, we aim to increase the number of wedding ceremonies being held in the kingdom, further positioning Bahrain as an ideal destination for weddings and celebrations,” said tourism advisor at BTEA, Dr Ali Follad.
In addition, a tour of the kingdom was also organised for the Indian delegation which featured a visit to some of Bahrain’s tourist attractions such as Go Karting, the Shri Krishna Hindu temple in Manama and Bahrain International Circuit.
The tour also included visits to some of the kingdom’s luxury hotels including the Gulf Hotel, Wyndham Grand Hotel, The Ritz-Carlton, Jumeirah Royal Saray Bahrain, and Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay.
To date, the kingdom has played host to 17 beau monde events, bringing around 6000 guests who arrived via Bahrain’s national carrier, Gulf Air, with a direct economic return of BD8 million, and attracting big names like Aamir Khan and the Ambanis.
The local indigenous craft industry, including the Manama Souq, was also able to bring select vendors to the hotels where the guests were staying for a personal shopping experience, giving visitors an opportunity to take a slice of Bahrain home with them.
Dr Follad added: “Hosting this familiarisation trip provided us with the opportunity to promote a range of wedding services and event planners as well as showcase unique venues, international luxury hotel chains and boutique offerings, further positioning the Kingdom as a prime wedding destination under the umbrella of “Island Wedding” thereby increasing the wedding sector’s contribution to the national economy in line with the Economic Vision 2030.”
