Tourism board, FNB empower entrepreneurs

The Namibia Tourism Board (NTB) in collaboration with First National Bank (FNB) Namibia is hosting a two-day tourism training and financial literacy workshop for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Windhoek.

The workshop started on Monday and is being attended by over 100 individuals. It focuses on tourism training and financial literacy, while equipping participants with the knowledge needed to grow their businesses, according to the hosts.

The initiative follows the signing of an agreement between NTB and FNB, with the bank contributing N$60 000 towards the workshop.

NTB chief executive Sebulon Chicalu highlights the growing importance of tourism, not only as a contributor to gross domestic product, but as a sector driven by people, innovation and opportunity.

“As the Namibia Tourism Board, our mandate goes beyond marketing Namibia as a destination. We are deeply committed to developing and sustaining tourism enterprises, especially start-ups and SMEs.

Through our programmes, we support emerging tourism entrepreneurs through training, mentorship and capacity-building initiatives, while also promoting sustainable and community-based tourism models to ensure economic benefits reach grassroots communities,” he says.

Chicalu says NTB is working closely with key stakeholders, including financial institutions, innovation hubs and government agencies, to create an enabling environment for tourism businesses.

He notes that these efforts align with broader national priorities such as digital transformation, startup incubation and investment promotion.

FNB treasurer Selma Kapeng echoes similar sentiments, stating that mentorship and well-structured training enable SMEs to reach wider markets. She adds that the N$60 000 contribution would specifically support the financial literacy and entrepreneurship components of the programme.

“Aligned with a broader SME focus on development and financial inclusion, we aim to equip participants with the skills and confidence to build viable and sustainable businesses,” she says.

One of the entrepreneurs attending the workshop, Nestor Achilles, has expressed appreciation for the initiative, saying it would help strengthen emerging tourism enterprises.

“The benefit of this event is to support SMEs and tour operators by equipping them with knowledge and skills, and helping them better understand their businesses while growing connections through networking,” he says.

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