Suriname

Project/Location
A member of a small team with
particular responsibility for
developing the tourism product as
part of an overall European Union
funded Tourism Development
Programme.

Suriname is located along the north
coast of South America and is one
of the worlds best remaining
tropical nature reserves. Extensive
rain forests covering much of the
interior and wetlands along its
coastline provide homes to
approximately 700 bird species.
Much of the interior is
undiscovered and transportation is
possible primarily by light plane and
by boat through a series of rivers
which run from the hinterlands into
the sea. The villages of indigenous
Amerindian and Bush Negro or
Maroon tribes still live in the interior
and are a tourist attraction. The
urban area of Paramaribo has a
rich architectural heritage and
waterfront setting but many of the
buildings also require rehabilitation.

The tourism potential in Suriname
therefore lies in the scenery of its
remote forests, its rivers and the
wildlife living along the coastline
and within the interior. The potential
to attract tourism to Suriname is
almost wholly in the area of nature
tourism.

Project Description
For the purposes of formulating and
promoting the tourism strategy, a
plan was put forward which
concentrates development into six
main zones: Paramaibo urban area,
Para recreational area and three
resorts in the Interior. Within these
zones, four key Improvement
Programmes have been devised
and costed and a detailed
programme set out for
implementation.

A key component of the product
development plan is an
environmental awareness
programme through the introduction
of various nature trails and
interpretation centres. These will
introduce the visitor to Suriname's
natural environment and
conservation issues.