04-06 market focus 19/9/08 14:50 Page 4
Market Knowledge
Match m
SARA MACEFIELD reports on the boom in ov
C
lients who get married overseas can
be a match made in heaven for
agents and operators who decide to
woo this market. While marrying
abroad can cost just a fraction of the
£20,000 price tag of an average UK wedding, it is
still a healthy earner for agents. Bookings can add
up to tens of thousands of pounds when large
groups of friends and family come along as well.
The average bill for tying the knot abroad is
estimated to be about £6,000, so it’s not surprising
that the number of couples opting to do this has
rocketed. According to market research company
Mintel, the weddings abroad market has doubled
over the past decade and now accounts for nearly
one in five British couples who get married – a
total of around 50,000.
Hoteliers and operators are confident that,
despite the UK’s economic downturn, this sector of
the market will continue to thrive. “People still
want to get married, and escaping to a tropical
38%
hideaway is increasingly popular as it is kinder on
the purse strings,” said Tom McNamara, Couples HONEYMOON
in person 62%
Resorts Europe and Asia director. DILEMMAS
at a travel other: online,
This lucrative market is
A WORLD OF CHOICE estimated to be worth
agency third party
The choice is huge, with Mediterranean hotspots as much as £600 million
or by phone
such as Cyprus, Malta, Italy and Greece competing a year – with the vast
with more distant destinations including the majority spent on
Caribbean, Indian Ocean, Far East, the US and honeymoons abroad.
Australia. Kuoni’s top 10 wedding destinations are The Maldives carries the Booking:
led by Sri Lanka, the US and Kenya in the top crown as Kuoni’s most popular
couples
three spots, followed by St Lucia, Mauritius, honeymoon hot-spot – a position it
Thailand, Canada, Antigua, Zanzibar and Tobago. has held for the last few years – followed
surveyed
Many of these countries have cut the amount of by Sri Lanka, Dubai, Thailand, US, Kenya,
by MSC
red tape, particularly the reduction (or even Mauritius, Singapore, Tanzania and Hong Kong.
Cruises
abolition) of residency requirements. This means Cosmos’s top honeymoon sellers include Mexico,
couples can sometimes marry as soon as they Maldives, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Kenya. Journey
arrive, or within a couple of days. Latin America says countries such as Brazil, Peru,
But there are limits to where couples can wed as Chile and Argentina are popular and have
some countries do not permit foreigners to marry, potential for growth.
or require them to be resident for a month before Many couples still want sunny weather and
the ceremony. In the Maldives, non-Muslims are beautiful surroundings to relax in after the big day,
barred from marrying, but the islands are hugely which explains the popularity of beach
popular for honeymoons and vow renewals. destinations in the Mediterranean, Caribbean or
New destinations arriving on the wedding scene Indian Ocean. But honeymooners are getting more
include Aruba, which is being promoted by First adventurous. Some are travelling further afield,
Choice; Costa Rica, Cook Islands and Zanzibar, now and many are looking for more to do than a couple
being offered by Virgin Holidays; Kuoni has recently
added the Grenadines, Nevis, Bali and Vienna.
Leading wedding operators with dedicated
brochures include Kuoni, Virgin Holidays, Cosmos,
the average price of a
Planet Holidays, Thomson, Thomas Cook, Argo
honeymoon in 2008
Holidays, Classic Collection, First Choice, Libra,
Odyssey Worldwide and Kirker.
4
TTG Knowledge WEDDINGS & HONEYMOONS September 2008
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