Penang eyeing lucrative international destination wedding market

GEORGE TOWN: Penang has now moved to aggressively tap the lucrative international destination weddings market as part of the state's continued efforts to grow tourism potential.
Leveraging on the state's position as a top regional tourism destination, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng launched Penang's inaugural International Wedding Exposition at the SPICE centre in Relau here.
Lim explained that Penang's growth as a destination can't be denied; citing that the international airport in Bayan Lepas has surpassed its maximum passenger handling capacity of around six million per annum two years ago.
In time to come, the airport will be expanded to accommodate 12 million passengers per annum.
Later, Global Penang Tourism chief executive officer Ooi Chok Yan and its director Datuk Danny Goon and co-organiser Goche Corporation Sdn Bhd managing director Eugene Goh shared their views with theSun on the international destination wedding market.
They said that the market is a multi-million ringgit enterprise with many spillover effects if Penang taps it correctly and possess a sustainable marketing model.
Goon said that India, China, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Japan were among nations whose courting couples aspiring to hold big international weddings.
And Penang is a prime example of a suitable destination.
Already ranked as, among the top domestic destination for marriage banquets, it is now time for the state to go international and tap the weddings' market, he said.
"In fact, the agents for wedding companies in other countries have come and it is an eye-opener to them as Penang is a relatively cheap destination on an international scale. We also offer many options," Gooh said.
The state's strengths lie in diversity; from hosting weddings through the Baba and Nyonya cultural concept to scenic sites of beaches, heritage, exotic culture, nature and modern trappings.
Then, there is the air linkages with the world's top budget carrier - Air Asia expanding on its international connectivity, Goon said.
Hence, the potential to grow the destination wedding market is huge, he said.