Tying the knot far from home is en vogue and the market is growing worldwide. For the first time, the experts from the Switzerland Convention and Incentive Bureau (SCIB) sought to attract couples interested in getting married abroad with specific Swiss wedding packages – with the new MySwitzerland.com/weddings platform in cooperation with the Constance Zahn wedding platform and a study trip. The key markets are the UK, US, India, Southeast Asia, Greater China and the Gulf countries. Eight “destination weddings” took place in Switzerland in 2019 with the involvement of SCIB. In addition, 27 offers were made by SCIB.

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The wedding theme attracted a lot of interest among Swiss media professionals. 54 reports were published in the media in 2019 on the subject, including an in-depth interview on “CNN Money Switzerland” with Barbra Albrecht, Head of SCIB and Member of the Executive Board of Switzerland Tourism ST. 

The largest number of website visits originated in Switzerland and India
The wedding platform has registered 51,273 visits since its launch in February 2019, most of them from Switzerland, India and USA. The new platform for “destination weddings” serves as a source of inspiration. It brings together various providers to offer a well-rounded service chain – for future spouses, wedding planners and travel agencies. Content is primarily available in English, but also in the national languages German, Italian and French. The wide range of ideas and the information about tourism partners is also of interest to Swiss couples.

SCIB expands its international network
15 wedding planners travelled to the Bernese Oberland and the Lake Geneva region at the invitation of SCIB. Such study trips commonly organised in tourism give SCIB employees the chance to establish personal contacts with important wedding planners. Markets represented during this trip were Greater China, India, the US, the Gulf countries, the UK, the Benelux countries and Southeast Asia.
The itinerary included Alpine huts, castles and churches that provide the ideal wedding backdrop. The participants got to know local service providers and had plenty of time to explore each location on their own.