A New Dawn for Citizen-Owned Tourism in Botswana

What if we could remove some of the biggest hurdles faced by small tourism businesses in Botswana? What if accessing finance was no longer a dream but a reality, secured by opportunity, not collateral?

That future is here.

Stanbic Bank Botswana, in partnership with Okavango Wilderness Safaris (OWS), has unveiled a game-changing financing model for citizen-owned tourism businesses. This is more than just a business deal. It is a bold reimagining of inclusive finance. It is about purpose meeting innovation. It is about overcoming barriers and unlocking dreams. 

Breaking the Access Barrier

For many citizen-owned tourism businesses, the path to growth has been blocked by a single word—collateral. Banks need security before lending. Small businesses often do not have assets to offer. That meant great ideas were left behind. That meant potential was paused.

But now, there is a new model. Under a signed Memorandum of Understanding, Stanbic Bank will partner to provide tailored financial support to qualifying businesses approved by Okavango Wilderness Safaris. The bank can help qualifying customers overcome barriers such as access to funding or lack of collateral, as loan repayments are structured through cession agreements. It is finance backed by future revenue, not property deeds. 

Tourism with Purpose

Tourism is not just about travel. It is about jobs. It is about culture. It is about livelihoods in places where few other industries reach. This financing model helps the businesses that support lodges, camps, guides, and food suppliers to grow. It helps them create employment. It helps them invest more. It helps them build stronger communities.

The partnership aligns with Stanbic Bank’s focus on creating Social, Environmental and Economic (SEE) impact. It sits under our Citizen Economic Empowerment Programme. We are not just talking about empowerment. We are building the structures that deliver it.

From Transaction to Transformation

This collaboration reflects a deep shift in how we approach growth. We are not lending in the traditional way. We are enabling businesses. We are creating systems that are fair and inclusive. We are reducing risk for all parties involved—bank, borrower, and buyer.

For OWS, the partnership supports their inclusive conservation vision. It ensures the communities they operate in benefit directly. It gives their suppliers access to real opportunities. Their Local Supplier Expo is already a strong platform. Now, it will be backed by finance and capacity building. Financial literacy. Business development. Real tools. Real transformation. 

Why It Matters for Botswana

The tourism sector is one of Botswana’s greatest treasures. It has global appeal. But for too long, its value has been extracted without enough shared prosperity. This new financing model is a signal that things are changing. It allows for the sector to grow in a way that includes more Batswana. More local ownership. More dignity. More equity. 

It also shows how partnerships can drive the economy. The 2023 Stanbic Integrated Report showed a tenfold growth in the CEEP loan book. That is not just money. That is movement. This new MoU promises to expand that momentum even further. 

Looking Forward

What happens when banks stop seeing risk and start seeing potential? What happens when corporations do more than buy from citizens—they build with them?

You get a future like this.

We are creating a stronger tourism value chain. We are creating entrepreneurs who are not just surviving, but thriving. We are creating communities that benefit from the beauty they preserve.

This is finance that works for people. This is growth that includes everyone. This is what progress looks like.