Hua Hin Airport eyed for Cha-Am wedding tourism boost

Phetchaburi’s tourism sector is looking to Hua Hin Airport as a potential driver of growth as officials move to position Cha-am and Hua Hin as higher-value wedding destinations, particularly for the Indian market.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Phetchaburi office said it is working to strengthen the province’s quality tourism offering, with a focus on weddings, golf, wellness, sport, family travel and higher-spending visitors.

Duangjai Khumsa-ard, director of the TAT Phetchaburi Office, said the wedding market has strong potential, especially among Indian tourists, who are already an important market for hotels in Cha-am and Hua Hin.

Several major hotels in the area, including SO Sofitel Hua Hin, Baba Beach Club Hua Hin Cha Am by Sri Panwa, Dusit Thani Hua Hin, Sheraton Hua Hin Resort & Spa and Avani+ Hua Hin Resort, are able to offer full hotel buy-outs for private wedding events. TAT estimates that at least 20 hotels in the area are ready to serve the market.

Duangjai said Phetchaburi’s proximity to Bangkok, its tourism attractions, culture and range of wedding venues made it well placed to attract higher-spending visitors.

She said TAT had also discussed potential target markets with hotel operators in preparation for the development of Hua Hin Airport. Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan and Shanghai have been identified as priority markets, with Singapore viewed as a possible aviation hub linking passengers from other countries, including India.

Phetchaburi welcomed 10.84 million visitors in 2025, generating 37.002 billion baht in tourism revenue. About 90% were domestic travellers. In the first five months of 2026, the province recorded 4.89 million visitors and 16.291 billion baht in revenue.

Zaffar Javid Noor, director of events management at SO Sofitel Hua Hin, said Indian wedding groups often book out the entire hotel. Standard packages start from about 3.8 million to 4 million baht for a four-day, three-night event, covering 108 rooms, 200 to 300 guests, and food and drinks. Larger events can reach 7 million to 8 million baht, excluding decorations, staging, lighting and sound.

At Baba Beach Club Hua Hin Cha Am by Sri Panwa, Assistant Director of Sales Wannipakarn Wattatham said full Indian wedding events typically cost 3.5 million to 4 million baht for a hotel buy-out, while larger events can reach 10 million baht.

Duangjai said some hotels were also using more local ingredients, including food linked to Phetchaburi’s status as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, to help spread tourism income to communities.

TAT is targeting 5% growth in both tourism revenue and visitor numbers this year.