Wilderness, LEA herald new era for citizen participation in tourism
Laone Choeunyane | Tuesday July 14, 2026 10:44
Last week, the two entities signed a Memorandum of Understanding which builds on the eco tourism group’s' ongoing efforts to integrate more citizen-owned businesses into its supply chain while strengthening enterprise development through LEA's business support programmes.
Caretaker Managing Director of Wilderness Safaris, Joe Matome, described the agreement as more than a business decision.
'There are moments when you sign an agreement because it makes business sense. And then there are moments like today. Moments where you sign something because you genuinely believe it has the potential to change lives.'
He said Botswana's tourism industry has created significant economic value, but more citizens must be able to participate in it.
'The question is not whether tourism creates value. The question is whether enough Batswana are able to participate meaningfully in that value,' Matome added.
The partnership follows the success of Wilderness' first Local Supplier Expo in 2024, which attracted more than 110 citizen-owned enterprises. Since then, 68 businesses have joined its supplier development programme, with 37 already supplying goods and services and another 18 under development. Contracts awarded through the initiative have grown from P6.3 million in its first year to P15 million.
Matome said the programme had delivered more than procurement opportunities.
'We saw confidence. We saw ambition. We saw businesses beginning to believe that they belonged in Botswana's premium tourism value chain,' Matome noted.
To address financing challenges, Wilderness partnered with Stanbic Bank Botswana in 2025 to establish a funding facility backed by procurement contracts. The agreement with LEA now adds enterprise development through mentorship, governance support, technical training, supplier readiness, market intelligence and performance monitoring.
LEA Caretaker Chief Executive Officer, Thato Jensen, noted that said the initiative tackles one of the biggest obstacles facing small businesses.
'Market access remains one of the greatest barriers to the growth and sustainability of SMMEs. While many enterprises possess quality products and services, they often struggle to secure consistent markets that generate predictable revenue and support long-term growth,' he said.
Over the past decade, Wilderness has procured P1.8 billion worth of goods and services from local businesses. During the 2024-25 financial year, it spent P292 million on procurement, with more than 80% directed to Botswana-registered businesses. The company also paid P1.2 billion in wages to nearly 1,000 Batswana employees and contributed P305 million in concession fees to government and local communities.
SMMEs contribute about 14.3% of Botswana's GDP, and the partnership aims to create sustainable market opportunities that support business growth, employment and greater citizen participation in the tourism value chain.
Matome said Wilderness remained committed to maintaining high standards while investing in local businesses.
'We are not lowering the bar. We are helping more Batswana reach it.'
Jensen encouraged more corporates and state-owned enterprises to adopt similar partnerships, saying the programme's success would be measured by the competitive businesses it develops, the jobs it creates and the value it retains within Botswana.
As Botswana seeks to diversify its economy, the partnership offers a practical model for broadening citizen participation in tourism. By linking procurement, finance and enterprise development, Wilderness and LEA hope to create more competitive local businesses while retaining greater value within the country.