The Kandy Esala Perahera is strengthening its position as an international tourism attraction, with growing numbers of visitors from Myanmar travelling to Sri Lanka to witness the annual cultural pageant and explore the country’s rich Buddhist heritage.

Travel company Wind & Waves Travels said it facilitated the arrival of 10 separate groups of Myanmar tourists this year. The programmes were designed around the Esala Perahera while also giving visitors the opportunity to explore religious, historical and natural attractions in different parts of Sri Lanka.

The growing interest from Myanmar is particularly significant due to the longstanding religious and cultural connections between Sri Lanka and Myanmar. Paying homage to the Sacred Tooth Relic and witnessing the Kandy Esala Perahera have become major highlights of the visitors’ itineraries.

According to Wind & Waves Travels Managing Director Lakith Nandi Dharmaratne, the Perahera offers Sri Lanka an important platform to present its cultural heritage to an international audience.

He also emphasized the importance of distributing tourism activity beyond Kandy. The company is seeking to take visitors to other destinations across the country, allowing more communities and tourism businesses to benefit from international visitor spending.

The increase in tourist groups is expected to create opportunities for a wide range of businesses, including hotels, transport operators, restaurants, tour guides, souvenir shops and other tourism-related service providers.

The development also highlights the potential for Sri Lanka to further promote its religious and cultural tourism offerings in markets with strong historical and spiritual connections to the country.

Sri Lanka recorded 2,362,521 tourist arrivals in 2025, according to Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority data. During the first seven months of 2026, the country welcomed 1,343,418 international visitors, demonstrating continued momentum in the tourism sector.

With major cultural events such as the Kandy Esala Perahera attracting international visitors, Sri Lanka has an opportunity to strengthen cultural tourism while encouraging travellers to explore destinations beyond the country’s most established tourist centres.