Manila targets Japan’s $6.6-B wedding mart

MANILA, Philippines - By marketing the country’s top beach destinations as alternative wedding locations, the Department of Tourism said the Philippines can expect a bigger slice of the estimated $6.6-billion Japan market this year. "The various island destinations of the Philippines are highly conducive to the beach and nature-inspired weddings that most Japanese couples are looking for," an official statement quoted Tourism Secretary Joseph H. Durano as saying. Mr. Durano said Boracay, Cebu, Bohol and Davao can be positioned as ideal destinations for Japanese weddings. The department estimates that as many as 450,000 Japanese couples choose to spend their nuptials abroad every year. The department also cited a report of the Japan Tourism Board (JTB) that showed that the overseas wedding industry in Japan is now estimated at $6.6 billion yearly. JTB said Japanese couples who hold their weddings abroad spend an average of $14,744 for the entire package. Couples spend an average of ¥566,000 for airfare and accommodations, and ¥215,000 for their wedding outfits. They spend as much as ¥791,000 for wedding ceremonies. JTB said couples prefer island destinations like Hawaii’s Waikiki, Indonesia’s Bali, and the country’s Boracay, among others. Three Philippine resorts offer full-service wedding packages: Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa, as well as Pulchra and Alegre Beach resorts, all in Cebu. - BusinessWorld