With its strong tourism and hospitality offerings, Thailand has long been established as one of the world’s leading Indian wedding destinations, and the country shows no signs of slowing down as more and more couples head to the kingdom to celebrate their special day. Speaking at the ASEAN-Indian Forum, organised by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) in the capital on 23 July, key industry players stressed Thailand’s appeal when it comes to meeting the increasing demand for Indian weddings away from home. With cultural similarity, value-for-money, and ease of organizing on the top of the mind, Thailand is becoming a top of the mind in this exotic locale for Indian couples.
Indian weddings are famous for their lavish celebrations, and increasingly, couples are opting to host these grand events in Thailand. The country sees more than 300 weddings from India annually, a significant number for a destination wedding market. Santosh Kumar, the country head for India and Indonesia at Booking.com, commented on the lucrative nature of hosting weddings in Thailand. “People find it cheaper to host a 300-500 guest wedding in Thailand or Malaysia than in India,” he said, noting the cost savings on flights and hotel accommodations as key factors for the growing trend.
In terms of travel, Shreyash Shah, commercial director at Destination Hospitality Management Group, emphasized that the cost of flying from Delhi to Bangkok is often cheaper than traveling to Goa—India’s own famous beach destination. This affordability, combined with the competitive pricing of hotels, has made Thailand an increasingly attractive destination for Indian weddings, which often include four to five elaborate functions.
The popularity of wedding destinations within Thailand is also growing. Hua Hin, just a three-hour drive from Bangkok, leads as the most popular destination for Indian weddings, followed closely by Phuket, Khao Lak, and Pattaya. Shah explained that the accessibility and appeal of these areas are driving the wedding tourism sector, with Destination Hospitality having seen a 225% increase in top-line revenue from Indian guests.
Free visa policy for Indian nationals is one of Thailand’s major attractions in encouraging Indian weddings. Ram Sachdev, president of the Thai Indian Wedding Association said that the policy has “given wings” to the Indian wedding industry in Thailand. “This is a sunrise market”, “To your destination” they have all you need—amazing hospitality, unique and exotic locations, local planners, decorator, make-up artist. Thailand is very self-sufficient. We don’t need to wait for anybody.
Also, the Thai Indian community in Thailand is an important part of the wedding tourism sector in the country. Sachdev said that if you want Indian tourists, go to your Indian diaspora. The best recommendation for a hotel or a wedding planner comes from your friends who’ve been the first to get married in their group of friends, especially with the trust aspect in mind , emphasizing the power of personal recommendations and network in weddings.
As Thailand continues to see rising interest in Indian weddings, the market is expanding in ways that benefit the broader hospitality industry. Companies like Destination Hospitality Management are restructuring to meet the increasing demand. Shah revealed that their dedicated vertical for Indian weddings and MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) is outperforming other markets, with China and Russia showing slower growth.
However, the Indian wedding sector’s rapid expansion comes with its challenges. Sachdev pointed out that organizing Indian weddings, which often involve feeding guests with specific dietary preferences multiple times a day, is complex. Despite this, he believes the potential is immense, especially with the rise of anniversaries and celebrations, which are expected to account for 50% of wedding revenues in the next two years.
Despite the growing demand, Thailand faces capacity challenges, particularly when it comes to hosting large-scale weddings. Sachdev expressed concern that many big Indian weddings are shifting to other destinations like Vietnam, Malaysia, and Bali, which are better equipped to handle large events. “Capacity is our biggest challenge. This is a huge market, and there’s even more growth coming. So, why don’t we pull together as a region and seize the opportunity?” he urged.
Thailand is positioned to become a global wedding destination for high-end weddings, but the country must strategically reposition itself in the international wedding arena. Sachdev stressed that Thailand is currently attracting mid-tier weddings, while the high-profile “big fat Indian weddings” are increasingly being held in Europe.
Thailand’s ability to provide affordable, luxurious, and culturally resonant wedding experiences positions it as an ideal destination for Indian weddings. However, the country must address the need for more venues and infrastructure to meet the growing demand from India’s wedding market.
It’s a burgeoning sector and as Thailand sells itself as a wedding destination, this will become increasingly important for Thailand in terms of a growing economy. With its picturesque venues, cultural diversity and budget-friendly options, Thailand is one of the best-loved places for couples to get married! The tourism authority’s work so far to attract Thai couples to get married has paid off but with the right level of investment and planning there is potential to grow much, much more.
To sum up, the wedding tourism market in Thailand is thriving on account of its perfect mix of cultural charm, affordability and world-class facilities that is drawing the attention of Indian couples. As demand increases and a dedication to the industry remains, Thailand is on track to play an even larger role in the world for wedding tourism.
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