Govt looks to Indian weddings to boost tourism revenueFILE PHOTO: An Indian wedding at the JW Marriott Phuket Resort and Spa in 2016 (photo supplied)Thailand hopes to boost its tourism revenue to between 600 billion-700 billion baht by year-end, by targeting high-spending groups like Indian wedding parties and honeymooners, a senior tourism official said. The government hopes to tap into "pent-up demand" from the multi-billion dollar Indian wedding industry, Tourism Authority of Thailand deputy governor Siripakorn Cheawsamoot told Reuters in an interview this week. Foreign tourism revenue from January to Aug 28 came in at 186 billion baht from 4.2 million visitors, and 10 million arrivals are expected for the full year. Now, having dropped most pandemic-related restrictions, the government is targeting revenue of $11 billion in the second half of 2022. Indian weddings in Thailand can cost 10 million to 30 million baht, as they can last up to a week and include everything from event planning to catering, decoration and transportation.
