Hippie festival at Arugam Bay

For the first time in South Asia, a Hippie festival organised by USA based and Sri Lankan owned AJ Events & Productions and Ceylon Creative Studios will be held in Arugam Bay next year.

Keith Bates

The Founding Director Global Operations AJ Events & Productions and Ceylon Creative Studios NYC, USA, Keith Bates said that such an event would generate a huge amount of publicity among the global Hippie community drawing them to Sri Lanka in large numbers.

He said that Hippies are generally considered low spenders but by hosting this event they can get them in large numbers to come to one venue in Arugam Bay. “We hope to bring in international artists that attract their community and host a series of other entertainment events thereby attracting around 3,000 to Arugam Bay for a period of at least one week.”

“Together with my partners, Georgio Malouf, shani Santiago, Oshi Perera and Reshan Hangiligedara we hope to hosts a three-day music festival similar to ‘The Woodstock Music Festival’ held in Bethel, New York, which was attended by around 5,000 young people living the hippie lifestyle,” he said.

He also said that events of this nature also bring in global bands that move with the Hippie festival.

“We expect this ‘Hippie festival in Arugam Bay’ to generate around USD 15 million plus revenue to Sri Lanka and hope to make it an annual event.

Bates said he also met the officials of Sri Lanka Tourism Convention Bureau who were very supportive towards this event as this MICE segment was not promoted before.

“Next week we will meet the Arugam Bay Hoteliers and other decision makers and logistical providers to obtain their support and open up to make this event a win-win for them as well,” he said.

Bates said that they have also hosted many international events in Sri Lanka including the Commonwealth Law Ministers Summit. “We are also planning to host an international Surfing Championship in Arugam Bay next year.” –

Source:
https://www.sundayobserver.lk/2023/07/30/business/hippie-festival-arugam-bay