Aqaba, February 3 (Petra) – The Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) and the Jordan Tourism Board (JTB) announced that Aqaba will host the 11th annual Destination Wedding Planners (DWP) Congress from October 7 to 9, with more than 500 participants from 70 countries expected to attend.

The announcement was made during a press conference on Monday, during which ASEZA signed a partnership agreement with the event organizer, QnA International.

Previously held in renowned global destinations such as Athens, Mauritius, Florence, Phuket, Los Cabos, Dubai, Bali, Rhodes, Doha, and Victoria Falls, the congress aims to position Jordan, particularly Aqaba, as a premier wedding destination.

Deputy Chairman of the Board of Commissioners and Commissioner of Economic Development and Tourism at ASEZA, Hamza Haj Hassan, underscored the significance of hosting the congress in Aqaba, highlighting the city’s growing international reputation. He noted that Aqaba was selected as the host city after a competitive bidding process against prominent global destinations.

The JTB Director General Abdul Razzaq Arabiyat emphasized the potential of the wedding tourism sector, citing Jordan’s distinctive attractions, including the Dead Sea, Petra, and Wadi Rum, alongside its world-class hotels and infrastructure.

He noted that these factors make Jordan an ideal destination for luxury weddings at local, regional, and international levels.

Future projections indicate that revenue in the wedding tourism industry will reach $320.3 billion by 2033, with an annual growth rate of 25.1 percent between 2025 and 2033. This growth underscores the rising demand among couples for destination weddings.

Hosting this year’s congress in Jordan places the country in the global spotlight, highlighting its potential to secure a significant share of this expanding industry.

//Petra// AJ
03/02/2025 15:43:00