Project Overview
Solimar International, in joint venture with Xplore Antigua Ltd, is supporting Suriname’s Ministry of Education, Science and Culture and the Paramaribo Urban Rehabilitation Program II (PURP II) to develop a Commercialization Strategy and Visitor Management Plan for the Jodensavanne Archaeological Site World Heritage Property. Located along the Suriname River, Jodensavanne tells an internationally significant story of Sephardic Jewish settlement, Indigenous communities, enslaved Africans, and colonial-era cultural exchange. The site was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2024 and includes the Jodensavanne Settlement and Cassipora Creek Cemetery.
The assignment focuses on ensuring that tourism development strengthens—not compromises—the site’s Outstanding Universal Value. Solimar’s approach links revenue generation, visitor experience improvements, conservation needs, and community benefit sharing into one practical implementation system. The Commercialization Strategy will define target markets, priority visitor experiences, pricing, partnerships, marketing channels, and a business model to support the site’s financial self-sustainability. The Visitor Management Plan will establish carrying capacity guidelines, visitor flow systems, zoning, monitoring indicators, and operational policies to protect fragile archaeological resources.
A central feature of the project is stakeholder engagement with the Jodensavanne Foundation, the Indigenous village of Redi Doti, surrounding communities, tourism operators, researchers, heritage experts, and diaspora partners. The work also explores how Xplore Jodensavanne can serve as a social enterprise model to sell and deliver high-quality visitor experiences while generating revenue for conservation and local economic benefit.
Major Activities
Inception, Desk Review & Stakeholder Engagement
Solimar completed an inception process to confirm the consultancy’s objectives, methodology, workplan, and stakeholder engagement approach. The team reviewed site management documents, World Heritage materials, tourism data, visitor experience conditions, online positioning, current tour offerings, and Jewish heritage networks. Solimar also conducted an inception mission to Suriname, including site visits, community consultations with Redi Doti and nearby villages, meetings with the Jodensavanne Foundation, heritage interpretation discussions, and a tourism industry workshop.
Commercialization Strategy & Business Planning
Solimar is developing a Commercialization Strategy to identify realistic ways to increase visitation and revenue while maintaining conservation priorities. This includes market and demand analysis, visitor journey mapping, product and experience development, pricing and yield recommendations, revenue stream assessment, partnership models, and a phased business plan. The strategy will also define marketing and positioning recommendations across digital channels, travel trade partnerships, diaspora networks, operator packaging, and destination marketing channels.
Visitor Management, Carrying Capacity & Operational Readiness
Solimar is preparing a Visitor Management Plan that will guide responsible visitation at Jodensavanne. The plan will include a carrying capacity assessment, visitor circulation recommendations, zoning and use rules, monitoring indicators and triggers, mitigation measures, and operational guidelines for site staff and partners. The team is also supporting practical implementation planning for Xplore Jodensavanne, including visitor experience products, booking systems, customer service standards, staff training, and tools to align tourism promotion with carrying capacity limits.
Results
- Inception Report confirming project objectives, methodology, stakeholder engagement plan, workplan, mission findings, and next steps
- Commercialization Strategy and Business Plan, including:
- Market and demand analysis
- Priority visitor segments and experience concepts
- Revenue streams, pricing strategy, and financial sustainability model
- Partnership development plan
- Marketing and positioning strategy
- Phased implementation roadmap
- Visitor Management Plan, including:
- Visitor carrying capacity study
- Site zoning, visitor flow, and access management recommendations
- Monitoring indicators, thresholds, triggers, and corrective actions
- Visitor management policies to protect Outstanding Universal Value
- Practical monitoring toolkit for site staff
- Support for Xplore Jodensavanne as an implementation vehicle for bookable visitor experiences, community benefit sharing, and conservation-linked revenue generation