Tourism

sectors: tourism

Suriname: a land of nature, culture and heritage

Suriname entered the international tourism market mid of the twentieth century and, since then, has reported steady growth visit figures due to its emergence as a holiday destination offering a unique mix of products based on nature and culture.

In each of its 10 districts, tourists can find an experience tailored according to their tastes and expectations.

sectors: tourism

Competitive advantage of Suriname

Attracts visitors from Europe (mainly Dutch people), North and South America and the Caribbean region .

  Lack of natural disasters – unlike is direct competitors, Suriname is placed outside the Hurricane Alley and is not prone to natural disasters or epidemics.

 Low influence of criminality: Suriname has received actors in the Global Organized Crime Index of 2021 a score of 4,9/10 in terms of prevalence of criminal markets and structure and influence of criminal. This means that it is ranked as the 98th country in the world less influenced by criminality, above Trinidad and Tobago (rank 102), Costa Rica (rank 105), Guyana (rank 111), Jamaica (rank 145) or Brazil (rank 171) and receives a better score than the American continent as a whole (5,06/10) .

 Health and hygiene: Suriname is not prone to epidemics. In fact, in 2015 the country received a score of 5,09/7 points in
health and hygiene in the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report. This score is higher than America’s average (5,06), Costa Rica (5,00), Jamaica (4,66) and Guyana (4,42), among others.

 Supported skills development: existence of specific HORECA training programs in the Suriname Hospitality and Tourism Training Centre, including short courses, hotel school, vocational training in Tourism and tailor-made courses elaborated according to the needs of each company. Diplomas are recognized all over the CARICOM.

 Ideal mix of experiences for active tourism: younger generations are seeking new forms of tourism based on outdoor activities and getting to know other cultures. Suriname offers this (difficult to find) mix of experiences, a fact that entails promising future prospects for the sector.

 Good weather: the average temperature is 27ºC and sun is rarely entirely absent.

 International connections: Following its ambition to become an international hub for air transport, Suriname’s main airports, Johan Adolf Pengel and Zorg-en Hoop, are directly connected to key American and European airports by means of 6 airlines
– Belem : 1h 50 min
– Curacao : 2h 30 min
– Amsterdam aprox. 9h
– Aruba: 3h
– Trinidad: 1h 30 min
– Miami: aprox. 5h
– Georgetown: 45 min

Besides the international connections, the country relies on other 47 small airports for the internal connections .

sectors: tourism

Main characteristics of the sector and potential products

Suriname, as a touristic destination, is based on two main pillars: NATURE: Around 93% of the Surinamese territory is composed of Amazonian rainforests and shelters a huge variety of flora and fauna . As the majority of the country is unspoiled and uninhabited, it provides the best scenario for the development of touristic products related to nature and adventure. We must highlight the existence of 15 nature reserved areas, as key products of special interest for eco-tourism. Also, the Central Suriname’s Nature Reserve, which is a primary tropical forest in west-central Suriname. This one accounts for the 10% of the whole land surface and possesses a rich range of plants (over 5.000 vascular plant species collected to date) and typical animals of the region, ranging from jaguars or primates to 400 bird species. The Reserve also relies on areas of swamp forest, savannah and xerophytic vegetation on the granite outcrops. Potential products: Opportunities exist in the value chain for the development of the following activities:
  • River rapids swims and rides in the Brokopondo district, along Suriname river
  • River cruises
  • Birdwatching, turtle egg lying and spotting wildlife: in Bigi Pan, Tottens, North Commewijne, Galibi and Albina coastal strip, Bownsberg
  • Sport fishing in the coastal area and Brokopondo lake
  • Wellness tourism: in Cultuurtuinlaan, orchid and zoo area, Upper Suriname, Raleigh falls and North Commewijne
  • Hiking in nature in Brownsberg (Toucan trail, Two stripe Green frog trail, etc.)
  • Agro-tourism: in Groningen, Coropina creek and North Commewijne area
  • Beach experiences: in Galibi coastal strip

CULTURE AND HERITAGE:

Suriname relies on a peaceful multi-cultural society formed by Amerindians, East-Indians, Javanese, Maroons, Creole, Chinese and Europeans. This multiculturalism can be perceived in the country’s architecture, cuisine and festivities or events.

Its capital city, Paramaribo, is the best demonstration of it and can be considered a living museum. In UNESCO’s words: “Paramaribo is an exceptional example of the gradual fusion of European architecture and construction techniques with indigenous South American materials and crafts to create a new architectural idiom”, “a place where the contact between the European culture of the Netherlands and the indigenous cultures and environment of South America in the years of intensive colonization” can be truly perceived.

The inner city of Paramaribo, which belongs to the UNESCO’s World Heritage List since 2002, possesses almost 300 listed monuments that reflect the country’s multicultural society and offers unusual panoramas such as a mosque next to a synagogue and, a few streets away, a roman catholic cathedral, the Mama Kerki or gospel churches, among others.

Potential products:

Opportunities exist in the value chain for the development of the following activities:

  • uisine and Food tours: Amerindian (pepre watra, Kasiri or Cassava Bread), Maroon (Afiingi or Bravoe soup) and Javanese (Bami, Nasi or Pitjel) cuisine is
    combined with Indian, Creole, Chinese, Lebanese, Jewish and Brazilian food.
  • Religious heritage: Paramaribo shelters Muslim, Jewish and Catholic monuments, among other.
  • Opening of art galleries
  • Heritage centers: especially in the coastal area and the Jodensavanne
  • Agro-tourism: in Groningen, Coropina creek and North Commewijne area
  • Indigenous tours: especially in Upper Suriname
  • Research tourism

PRIORITY TOURISM ZONES:

Five zones possess the necessary appealing characteristics to be turned into main tourism areas, together with Central Suriname’s Nature Reserve and Paramaribo:

1. Bigi Pan: especially for research, sport fishing and bird watching.

2. Upper Suriname: offers a large tourism product based on a unique combination of Maroon culture and rich nature that turns it into the ideal place for the development of culture, nature health and wellness and adventure tourism.

3. Galibi: main breeding beach for the olive dropback turtle in the western Atlantic region.

4. Coastal strip Albina: beautiful sandy river banks, connected to French Guiana

5. North Commewijne: the combination of flora, fauna and heritage cycle and walkways offers space for culture tourists, birdwatchers and for wellness-oriented guests.

SECTORS: agribusiness

4. Support

Suriname Investment and Trade Agency (SITA) is the national Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (TIPA) and is comitted to be the strategic and the trusted partner of anyone who wants to do business in Suriname. Need support? Contact us here

A. RELEVANT ENTITIES

  • Ministry of Transport, Communication and Tourism
  • Suriname Tourism Board
  • De Tourism Union of The Republic of Suriname (TOURS/Tours)
  • VESTOR (Tour operators association)
  • The Suriname Hospitality and Tourism Association (SHATA)
  • Suriname Hospitality And Tourism Training Centre
  • Chamber of Commerce and Industry
  • VFS Global: Authorised partner for the Government of the Republic of Suriname/Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Cooperation to offer a Suriname E-VISA/E-Tourist Card. For more information please visit: https://suriname.vfsevisa.com/suriname/online/home/index

B. POLICIES

The Nationaal Strategisch Toerisme Plan 2018-2030 foresees to support the development of the touristic sector and the promotion of investments. In order to do so, several tax and non-tax incentives are being studied and the following actions are given priority:

    • 1. Introduction of earmarked taxes for the development of sector
    • 2. Evaluation of the expired and, where necessary, reintroduction of tax incentives
    • 3. Preparation and export of tax treaties with new destination markets
    • 4. Elaboration of the tourism tax policy, including incentive plan.

C. AVAILABLE INCENTIVES:

Suriname grants incentives for tourism entrepreneurs (except fixtures and fitting and the operation of casinos) who keep regular accounts on their operations (with annual closings) and who, in a year, invest in operating assets intended to be used within the framework of the enterprise.

The specific incentives are:

  • Free write offs: when computing the profit enjoyed in a year for the profit of levying income tax, the amount of the investment (in operating assets)
    shall be depreciated arbitrarily.
  • Exemption from income tax: The profit enjoyed in the commencement year of an enterprise (and the following 9 years) shall be exempted from
    income tax if certain requirements are met.
  • Exemption from import duties: the import of capital goods can be partially exempted from import duties, turnover tax and statistics levy if certain
    conditions are met.
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