Jiwarajka of family-owned Jiwaraj Textiles Industries Ltd, has chosen Mauritius to wed his daughter, Srita to Amit Puri from November 26 to 29.
This marriage is the first of the new declared policy of attracting the Indian wedding market to the country, Sudesh Lallchand, Senior Advisor of Tourism Minister, told PTI in Port-Louis today.
Three resorts hotels Intercontinental, Grand Mauritian and Oberoi, located in the northern part of the island, have been booked by the Jiwarajka to accommodate a thousand special guests coming from India, England, Pakistan and US.
The guests will be coming through three chartered flights from Air Mauritius and a private jet, Lallchand added.
A budget of Rs 152 million has been earmarked by the family for the organisation of this high class wedding.
Four days of joyful festivities have been scheduled to entertain the guests, with the presence of well –known music director duo, Sajid-Wajid.
This first wedding is considered by the Tourism ministry as a major breakthrough in its attempt to target high net worth Indian families for wedding.
"It's important to diversify our tourist products through new growth markets" said Tourism Minister Nandkumar Bodha who recently led a business delegation comprising 30 companies to India and met the travel trade people in Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru.
Two other weddings are in the pipeline.
Bodha said that Mauritius is offering a red carpet welcome to these groups and is providing all infrastructures and facilities.
Mauritius is positioning itself within the Indian wedding market, competing with countries like Sri Lanka, Maldives, Cayman Island, Malaysia and Singapore, internationally known in this market.
Currently, the share of Indian tourists visiting the island is six to seven per cent, Lallchand said, adding the target is to increase it to 11-12 per cent within the next five years.
Some 36,255 Indians visited Mauritius for the nine months ending September 30, a 30 per cent increase compared to last year, said a statement issued by Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority.