US, Oct. 2 -- The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) have signed a global partnership to strengthen small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Travel & Tourism, combining WTTC's tourism expertise and government relationships with ICC's network of more than 45 million businesses in over 170 countries.

The agreement is designed to give tourism SMEs greater access to practical tools, business networks and policy discussions while addressing barriers ranging from financing and regulation to digitalization, connectivity and mobility. With SMEs accounting for roughly 85% of Travel & Tourism businesses, the partnership could be particularly significant for family-owned and smaller operators ...