Page 58 - Masala Weddings in Thailand 2018

THAI INDIAN WEDDING ASSOCIATION

“ TIWA is making substantial

progress in establishing

Thailand as a globally-
recognised destination for

Indian weddings. “

With the industry continuing to thrive, the need for an
organisation to oversee and provide a voice for this business
sector has never been greater. In 2015, the Thai Indian
Wedding Association (TIWA) was formed, as an initiative
spearheaded by Ram Sachdev, Chairman of Masala
Magazine, the leading Indian publication in Thailand. As one
of the first to recognise the potential of the Indian wedding

market, Ram approached the Tourism Authority of Thailand
(TAT) to help give the budding industry the direction it
needed. Subsequently, the TAT has fully supported TIWA
since its inception. As Srisuda Wannapinyosak, Deputy
Governor for International Marketing – Asia and South

Pacific – of the TAT says, “We are still only scratching the
surface of the market potential. An estimated 15 million
weddings are held in India every year with an overall
expenditure of US$60 billion dollars. With the vast majority
of the Indian population still in their 20s, many more
weddings will be held in the years ahead.”

Now recognised as the official voice of the Thai Indian
wedding industry, TIWA is making substantial progress in
establishing Thailand as a globally-recognised destination
for Indian weddings. The association’s singular purpose is
to promote, protect and preserve the Thai Indian wedding
industry in both domestic and international markets, by
establishing itself as an authoritative and accurate source

of invaluable information. By raising red flags, addressing

issues, resolving conflicts, and providing a definitive platform

of standardisation, the association’s collective efforts will
further enhance this burgeoning, yet young industry.
“We want to create an awareness of TIWA by informing all
businesses associated with the industry, including airlines,
venues, hotels, wedding planners, caterers, and other
suppliers, of the aims and intentions of the association to aid
in providing support to those operating in the Indian wedding
market,” says Ram, who is also President of TIWA.

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