The wedding ceremony of Canadian couple Rajvir and Jaspreet on the banks of Lidder, surrounded by the lush green forests, brought the focus on the scope of promoting Kashmir as a wedding destination.
People related to the tourism industry feel that the mood is buoyed by the record number of tourists visiting the alluring valley. They believe that because of its romantic and nostalgic appeal, it has inspired many Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and others to plan memorable days in the magical Kashmir.
Sensing the mood, the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department is also taking steps to cash in on the trend. “Jammu & Kashmir is a beautiful place. People can come here not only to enjoy the mesmerising locales but also to perform at and celebrate their weddings at dream destinations here. We are in touch with local hoteliers in this regard,” Sarmad Hafeez, Secretary, Tourism Department, said.
Cities and towns like Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Musoori and Lonavala, among others, are some of the most popular wedding destinations across the country. However, there is a potential that Kashmir will be soon added to the list.
The economic potential of the destination wedding market in the country is pegged to be around ₹25,000 crore. With the enlisting of Kashmir as another wedding destination, it is all set to give tourism a big boost in the valley.
Jammu & Kashmir in the last year or so has seen the arrival of MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions), corporate bookings and film tourism, besides the traditional leisure and adventure tourism. Holding destination weddings now is going to broaden the spectrum of tourism services and products.
“In several of our meetings with local hoteliers, we have asked them to develop facilities for dream weddings and tie up with leading wedding planners and event managers in the country to sell the place as a prominent wedding destination, which certainly would give a big boost to the local tourism,” Hafeez added.