So much so, that tourism authorities across the region are swiftly developing initiatives to help tap into this lucrative market.
In 2016, Bahrain Tourism & Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) launched a new campaign to reposition itself as a leading destination for engagements, weddings and honeymoons, outlined Ali Hasan Follad, adviser, BTEA.
ollad expanded that along with workshops to share good practice amongst travel experts of the income-generating sector, BTEA unveiled its new brand identity, Island Wedding, showcased through a dedicated website and an upcoming promotional video.
BTEA is not alone with its focus on nuptials.
As illustrated by Yamina Aoucher, director, tourism development and marketing, Ajman Tourism Development Department (ATDD), Ajman welcomed a highly successful 2016, with profits from weddings up 22 percent over 2015.
Moreover, The Ajman Palace Hotel Wedding Fair, organised collaboratively by ATDD and The Ajman Palace Hotel, was held for the third time in January this year and has undoubtedly had a sizeable impact on growing the sector within the emirate.
Aoucher stressed that the luxury exhibition acts as a great platform for creating awareness about the destination.
THE BIG DAY
In terms of weddings, 2016 proved to be a year of great success for hoteliers in Ajman, while honeymoons played a much less active role throughout the whole MENA region.
Nehal Rizvi, general manager, Crown Palace Hotel, said that almost all weekends were busy with weddings, with the sector supporting around 15 percent of the property's total revenue.
Echoing this, Aleksandra Magomedora, assistant sales manager, Ajman Saray, A Luxury Collection Resort underlined the vital role that weddings play within the banquet segment.
She expounded, "It contributed approximately 50 percent of the resort's total banquet revenue, and has shown some increment from 2015." Meanwhile, Radisson Blu Resort, Sharjah witnessed a dip in nuptials, predominantly a result of an influx of competition and alternative venues within the emirate.
Kamal Rijhwani, executive assistant manager, Radisson Blu Resort, Sharjah, elaborated that in 2016, weddings accounted for around 55 percent of all food and beverage business, down from 2015's figure of 59 percent.
It is well acknowledged that 2016 proved to be a financially challenging year for many across the region.
Whilst noting that couples' big day itself represents around seven percent of the address' total revenue, Ayesha Curmally, conference and events manager, Sheraton Sharjah Beach Resort & Spa explained that the wedding industry is a direct reflection of the economic climate at any given time, hence a general decrease across the region compared to 2015.
On the other hand, in Oman, despite only first exploring the weddings market in 2013, Asma Al Hajry, assistant director general tourism promotions and marketing, Ministry of Tourism, Oman, enthused, "Since then, we have seen year-on-year growth in this segment."
