The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) have launched a joint initiative designed to boost the influence and expansion of millions of global travel and tourism small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The partnership brings together WTTC‘s specialist travel and tourism expertise, economic research, and industry insight with ICC‘s global business network spanning over 45 million businesses across more than 170 countries.
Supporting SME Growth
SMEs represent over 85% of travel and tourism businesses globally and are vital to job creation, entrepreneurship, innovation, and local economic development.
However, smaller businesses are often disproportionately affected by fragmented regulation, skills shortages, limited access to markets and finance, digital barriers, connectivity challenges, visa requirements, and other travel frictions.
WTTC and ICC will work together to identify these barriers and advocate for conditions that enable SMEs to compete and grow.
Collaboration and Advocacy
The collaboration will include sharing research and business intelligence, engaging businesses across ICC’s international network, and convening public- and private-sector leaders.
It will also provide SMEs with practical tools and insights, while strengthening the evidence available to policymakers and informing practical policy recommendations.
Gloria Guevara, President & CEO of WTTC, said: “Travel & Tourism is powered by millions of businesses around the world, and SMEs are at the heart of our sector.”
John W.H. Denton AO, Secretary General of ICC, said: “Travel and Tourism is one of the world’s most connected industries, linking people, businesses, and markets across borders every day.”
Through this partnership, ICC and WTTC will bring together the global business community to support entrepreneurship, expand opportunity, and ensure that growth in travel and tourism delivers benefits across economies and communities worldwide.
The partnership reflects a shared commitment to practical collaboration that strengthens businesses while supporting jobs, investment, and sustainable economic growth worldwide.
The MOU establishes a framework for strategic collaboration between WTTC and ICC, with initial areas of activity including research and business engagement, policy development, knowledge sharing, and opportunities to connect travel and tourism businesses with wider international business networks.