Turkey recognizes India as a promising market for weddings and family events, demonstrated by the rising tourist visits, revenue growth, and booking of 50 weddings in 2024. İsmail Bütün, General Manager at Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA) talks to T3 and shares insights on the current progress.
What has been the response in 2023 and anticipation for 2024?
In 2023, Türkiye welcomed over 56.7 million international tourists, generating more than $35 billion in revenue. The wedding tourism segment, particularly popular in destinations like İstanbul, Bodrum, and Cappadocia, has significantly contributed to this growth. India, with approx 90 million passport holders, plays a pivotal role in this expansion.
Türkiye aims to accommodate a wide range of group sizes for weddings, typically ranging from 100 to 1,500 guests. This flexibility ensures that both intimate and large-scale weddings can be expertly organised to meet the highest standards. A total of 50 Indian weddings have been confirmed so far in 2024 in Istanbul, Antalya, and Bodrum.
Give us the overview of existing facilities for Indian weddings.
Türkiye’s well-developed infrastructure and high standards of hospitality cater seamlessly to diverse preferences and budgets, making it particularly attractive as a wedding destination. The luxurious venues and diverse landscapes of Türkiye align well with the grandeur of Indian weddings. Iconic landmarks like the Topkapı Palace and waterfront mansions along the Bosphorus in İstanbul, as well as modern facilities in cities like İstanbul and Antalya, offer unique and picturesque settings for weddings.
Türkiye’s extensive coastline features numerous beach venues, particularly in Antalya and Bodrum, ideal for outdoor weddings with stunning sea views, while regions like Cappadocia provide extraordinary natural settings with their unique fairy chimneys and picturesque valleys.
The country is home to numerous highly regarded event and organization companies with multilingual personnel, skilled in organizing luxury weddings and special events, ensuring every detail is meticulously handled. Additionally, luxurious spa services, including traditional Turkish baths (hammams), and various recreational activities such as yacht tours, blue cruises, and outdoor adventures enhance the wedding experience for the wedding party and guests.
What will be the marketing & promotional strategy going ahead?
Turkish authorities are actively promoting Türkiye as a premier destination for weddings through a variety of strategic initiatives. These efforts include participating in and hosting international wedding conferences, organizing familiarization trips for wedding planners and influencers, and launching targeted marketing campaigns. Events like RSVP and the Exotic Wedding Planning Conference (EWPC) are pivotal in showcasing Türkiye’s diverse venues and stunning landscapes to global industry leaders.
In addition, Türkiye is specifically collaborating with Indian wedding planners to cater to the unique preferences of Indian weddings. This collaboration involves creating bespoke packages that include authentic Indian cuisine prepared by experienced chefs, culturally relevant services such as traditional ceremonies and rituals, and venues capable of accommodating large wedding parties.
