Live streaming of Kandy Esala Perahera reached 16K global viewers

 The global live streaming of the Kandy Esala Perahera that was facilitated by Sri Lanka Tourism this year reached nearly 16,000 viewers across the globe making the online promotion effort during the pandemic a success, the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) said.  The Perahera was live streamed in seven different languages; English, Sinhala, Tamil, Thai, Chinese, Cambodian and Japanese and was carried out in partnership with the media bureau of Sri Dalada Maligawa.

The live streaming of the religious and cultural event was part of the online promotion campaign by Sri Lanka Tourism to ensure the country remains a top-of-the-mind destination among its target audience. The objective was  to enable a faster road to recovery for the entire sector once borders reopen.

The Kandy Esala Perahera was live-streamed in 2020 as well.  However, according to SLTDA Chairperson Kimarli Fernando, the 2021 event has a better outcome. “This year’s event drew inspiration from a similar situation in 2020, where the Dalada Perahera was also live-streamed. 2021 was even better, due to our learnings and experience from the first event and the increased reach and engagement with a wider global audience,” said Fernando in a statement to the media.

The STLDA chief pointed out that such efforts reflect the overall vision and strategic plan of the government for enhancing the global positioning of Sri Lanka Tourism as a must-visit destination in Asia.

Furthermore, she shared that a collective effort is currently underway to ensure a technology-driven tourism sector, which will allow the island to appeal to a wider audience, looking for unique, yet accessible experiences.