“Mérida has been developing and is now one of the main wedding tourism destinations,” said Kitzia Morales Torres, president of the International Association of Destination Wedding Professionals, IADWP, in her conference “The new star of group tourism : Wedding Tourism”.
In this meeting, held by the School of Gastronomy and Tourism of the Anáhuac Mayab University, the speaker explained the difference between Romance Tourism and Wedding Tourism.
“Romance Tourism is a romantic experience, which can be as a couple for one or two days, or from one month to a year, but normally it is a couple’s trip”, she said
On the contrary, Wedding Tourism is normally a group trip, people travel around a celebration that normally lasts an average of 3 days and a series of related activities are carried out.
“In terms of economic benefits and benefits, what interests us the most is Wedding Tourism. It is difficult to have the data, but on average, per year, an average of a thousand weddings of couples who are not from Mérida have to take place, and these weddings are of a high level, those that take place on haciendas, for example. The average cost per attendee at a destination wedding is approximately 1,000 dollars, while the cost of the bride and groom for each of the guests they bring is 500 dollars,” she commented.
There is a tourism economic benefit that focuses on visitors, but there is also another in terms of production and everything related to this event.
Wedding Tourism is a movement that emerged 20 years ago. Couples in the US were looking for destinations where it would be cheaper for them to carry out their wedding.
“I would say that the main motivations continue to be the economic part, as well as a matter of intimacy, of being able to be with the loved ones that you really want present and take away your commitments,” said Kitzia Morales.
He explained that Wedding Tourism has evolved, before the most important thing was the wishes of the bride, now it seeks to give different experiences to the guests who attend the wedding. That is why Yucatan is among the favorite destinations, as it offers many places and activities.
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