Workshops to improve Wedding and Honeymoon Market begin

A series of four workshops targeting wedding and honeymoon service providers are currently underway at the Fort Young Hotel.

The workshop, organized by the Discover Dominica Authority, will focus mainly on strengthening the development of the local wedding and honeymoon niche tourism product, and building the capacity of relevant public and private sector persons and organizations involved or wishing to become involved in the market.

At the end of the workshop, participants are expected to have a better understanding of the trends and techniques of the wedding and honeymoon niche market.

Director of Discover Dominica Authority Colin Piper told the official opening of the workshop on Monday, that destination wedding and honeymoon is one of the fastest growing sectors in the tourism industry valued at US$12.5 billion.

He says, according to reports, every year an average of 2.4 million weddings are performed in the US.

“Tourism is a major engine of growth in the Dominican economy, generating in excess of 193 million dollars in 2008 alone,” he said.

Meantime Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism Esther Thomas says the event is timely, and Dominica recognizes the importance of developing new products.

“The Wedding and Honeymoon Markets is one of those which we have seen as an opportunity for us to move forward. Many people have come to Dominica to do weddings and it beholds us to set the right framework, so that people can have an excellent marriage,” she said.

She said it is the responsibility of the Ministry of Tourism to ensure that the product is developed.

– DNO Correspondent