Wildlife may not necessarily be top of mind when it comes to tourism perceptions of Sri Lanka. Nevertheless, the southern Asian nation boasts a wide range of animals that are now being showcased via livestream for armchair travellers.

The virtual project – dubbed “couch safaris” – by the Sri Lanka tourism board is designed to help revive a tourism industry that has been decimated by the coronavirus pandemic by promoting one of the country’s lesser-known aspects. Initially, the livestreams will cover four national parks, featuring the South Asian country’s exotic wildlife, including leopards, bears, elephants, crocodiles and birds.

The project will offer eight wildlife streaming video sessions of one hour each which will be shown on the srilanka.travel web site and social media platforms.

Tourism in Sri Lanka — which was named the world’s top travel destination for 2019 by Lonely Planet — has suffered severely due to the coronavirus, with authorities indefinitely postponing the reopening of the country to foreign tourists.

Other island experiences will eventually join the wildlife livestream, helping the tourism industry shift from value to experiential positioning.

The program is also expected to help enhance Sri Lanka’s digital footprint and build its social media reach.

Check out the livestreams HERE.