Seven years ago, Selma Jonas started a tourism business called Namibia Express Travel Tours and Information Centre that is registered with the Namibia Tourism Board as a booking agent.
According to Jonas, her company offers flight bookings, free travel information to local and international tourists and also sells regional and international holiday packages, car rentals, tours and a variety of tourism-related offerings.
The story of the sole owner is one of determination as she faced many challenges at the beginning mainly due to lack of financial discipline and proper business planning skills.
Jonas said her career in hospitality and tourism spans over 23 years, including the time she used to work during school holidays.
“I started off as a cleaner and then a waitress. When I eventually matriculated from Academia High School, I was offered a full-time job as a switchboard operator,” Jonas said. She worked hard and was subsequently promoted to the position of banqueting and conference coordinator and later to receptionist.
“I enjoyed working, but decided to further my experience. I resigned from the hotel and joined a clothing retail group as branch manager in Keetmanshoop and later Karasburg,” Jonas said.
With retail experience under her belt, she joined a tourism company chain as a reservations consultant for six years, and she became an expert in the field of hospitality, travel and tourism.
“It is my passion and talent,” she said.
According to Jonas, obtaining funding is one of the major challenges small and medium enterprises (SMEs) face in Namibia and the world at large.
She said most SME owners suffer in silence because they are scared to fail. Others do not want to approach banks for funding and in some cases they do not have the required documents in place.
“My advice to entrepreneurs is that they should stand up and approach financial institutions. As business people, we should know that it is only through good financial discipline and ethics that a business can succeed.”
Due to capacity constraints, Jonas approached Bank Windhoek’s Emerging Small and Medium Enterprises (ESME) branch for funding and her application was successful.
She now employs four people; a full-time driver, two travel consultants and an international consultant based in Scotland.
“I have been a Bank Windhoek customer for the past 23 years. I love the bank’s culture and customer service. Since I approached the ESME branch, my business has grown tremendously. I am psychologically and financially matured due to the advice I received from the ESME team.
“The ESME branch caters specifically to Namibian entrepreneurs that can contribute positively to the country’s economy. Entrepreneurs are provided with access to Bank Windhoek’s ESME branch, offering a comprehensive range of products tailored to individual business needs such as mine.
“The bank gave me a chance to grow my business. Bank Windhoek is not just a bank, it’s my Namibian business partner,” Jonas said.
The story of the sole owner is one of determination as she faced many challenges at the beginning mainly due to lack of financial discipline and proper business planning skills.
Jonas said her career in hospitality and tourism spans over 23 years, including the time she used to work during school holidays.
“I started off as a cleaner and then a waitress. When I eventually matriculated from Academia High School, I was offered a full-time job as a switchboard operator,” Jonas said. She worked hard and was subsequently promoted to the position of banqueting and conference coordinator and later to receptionist.
“I enjoyed working, but decided to further my experience. I resigned from the hotel and joined a clothing retail group as branch manager in Keetmanshoop and later Karasburg,” Jonas said.
With retail experience under her belt, she joined a tourism company chain as a reservations consultant for six years, and she became an expert in the field of hospitality, travel and tourism.
“It is my passion and talent,” she said.
According to Jonas, obtaining funding is one of the major challenges small and medium enterprises (SMEs) face in Namibia and the world at large.
She said most SME owners suffer in silence because they are scared to fail. Others do not want to approach banks for funding and in some cases they do not have the required documents in place.
“My advice to entrepreneurs is that they should stand up and approach financial institutions. As business people, we should know that it is only through good financial discipline and ethics that a business can succeed.”
Due to capacity constraints, Jonas approached Bank Windhoek’s Emerging Small and Medium Enterprises (ESME) branch for funding and her application was successful.
She now employs four people; a full-time driver, two travel consultants and an international consultant based in Scotland.
“I have been a Bank Windhoek customer for the past 23 years. I love the bank’s culture and customer service. Since I approached the ESME branch, my business has grown tremendously. I am psychologically and financially matured due to the advice I received from the ESME team.
“The ESME branch caters specifically to Namibian entrepreneurs that can contribute positively to the country’s economy. Entrepreneurs are provided with access to Bank Windhoek’s ESME branch, offering a comprehensive range of products tailored to individual business needs such as mine.
“The bank gave me a chance to grow my business. Bank Windhoek is not just a bank, it’s my Namibian business partner,” Jonas said.
