Suriname wants to develop tourism and attract more foreign visitors. But how well prepared are we for the arrival of cruise ships? Do we have the right facilities, clear procedures and, above all, a sound plan to further develop this form of tourism?
The arrival of a private cruise ship with 147 Russian guests this week once again shows the opportunities Suriname has. The visitors were given the opportunity to discover Paramaribo and its surroundings. Some visited the city centre, while others went to Peperpot and Jodensavanne. What is remarkable is that the ship deliberately made a stopover in Suriname.
That is positive, because every tourist who visits our country can contribute to our economy. Taxi drivers, tour operators, guides, restaurants, souvenir sellers and other small entrepreneurs can benefit from this.
At the same time, a bottleneck becomes visible that we can address through targeted investments.
A cargo port is not a passenger terminal
Cruise ships calling at Paramaribo use the existing port facilities. The Dr. Jules Sedney Haven is primarily designed for goods transport and cargo activities.
Trucks and other heavy equipment operate on the port grounds. Containers are moved and daily port operations are carried out. It is not an environment where tourists can walk around freely.
Strict access rules therefore apply, and visits must be carefully organised. That is understandable and necessary. Safety must never be made subordinate to tourism.
A cruise passenger must be able to disembark safely and easily, without having to move through an area with freight traffic and container operations.
Suriname should have a separate passenger terminal, with safe walking routes, sanitary facilities, a reception area, clear signage and well-organised transport. This does not have to be a multimillion-dollar complex immediately. Start with what is necessary and expand when the number of cruise ships increases.
Regulations exist, but how efficient are our procedures?
Suriname has maritime legislation and regulations. The Wet Maritieme Beveiliging, the international ISPS Code and the regulations of Havenbeheer set requirements for the safety of ships and port facilities.
Ships must be registered in advance. Passenger lists and security information, among other things, must be provided. The Maritieme Autoriteit Suriname (MAS) has an important supervisory role.
The existing rules are necessary. However, the procedures for an international cargo port do not always align with the practical needs of cruise tourism.
A cruise ship sometimes remains in Suriname for only a few hours. When the processing of documents, the granting of access or the transport of tourists is delayed, valuable time is lost.
A clear, joint procedure is therefore needed for Havenbeheer, the MAS, customs, immigration services, tour operators and other relevant agencies. Safety must remain guaranteed, but bureaucracy must not become an unnecessary obstacle.
There are plans, but when will implementation follow?
Havenbeheer previously announced that it wants to develop a separate cruise terminal. In 2026, a national cruise strategy was also presented and plans were announced for a passenger terminal along the Suriname River, near the historic centre of Paramaribo.
These are positive developments. But a plan alone does not yet provide a safe berth. When will implementation begin? What investments are needed? Who bears responsibility and within what time frame can we expect results?
The existing port is currently being expanded with a view to the oil and gas sector. That is understandable, because that development also requires good infrastructure. But why should we not simultaneously invest seriously in another economic sector that already offers opportunities?
Tourism also means entrepreneurship
Cruise tourism is about much more than receiving a ship. When a cruise ship with 150 or 300 passengers calls at Suriname, work is created for local entrepreneurs. But these economic opportunities do not arise automatically.
Are there enough trained guides? Do we have reliable transport? Are our tourist locations easily accessible and do they have decent sanitary facilities? Can visitors walk safely and pleasantly through Paramaribo?
We must also ensure that local entrepreneurs can actually participate. It would be regrettable if the proceeds mainly end up with a small group of companies, while the rest of society hardly benefits.
A national cruise strategy must therefore not only focus on ships and berths, but also on the development of small enterprises, training and the quality of our tourism services.
This must also include attention to the environment. More cruise ships also mean that we must make proper arrangements regarding waste processing, discharges and the protection of our rivers.
We must think ahead
Suriname has beautiful nature, a distinctive culture, a historic city centre and a hospitable population. There is enough to offer visitors who call at our country for a few hours or several days.
But tourism does not develop merely by telling people how beautiful our country is. It requires investment, planning, cooperation and clear responsibilities.
We speak a great deal about economic development, diversification and the opportunities of oil and gas. Economic diversification means that we must also take other sectors seriously. Cruise tourism is one such sector.
The arrival of 147 foreign guests should therefore not merely be seen as a pleasant visit. It should be a reason to critically examine our preparedness for future cruise ships.
If we want international shipping companies to include Suriname more often in their itineraries, we must be able to demonstrate that we can receive visitors safely, efficiently and professionally.
Suriname does not have to wait until hundreds of cruise ships announce themselves before putting its affairs in order. By investing now and making clear arrangements, we can ensure that more cruise ships call at our country in the future.
A country that takes tourism seriously must not only invite visitors, but also be prepared for their arrival.
