UK will be without a tourism minister after all

The UK government has confirmed has downgraded the role of tourism minister, and former tourism minister John Penrose, who departed yesterday, will not be replaced. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) confirmed this morning that Penrose will not be replaced. A spokeswoman said: “The DCMS had three junior ministers, now there are two. John Penrose’s portfolio will be given to the two.”

The travel industry has lobbied long and hard for a dedicated, cabinet-level minister for tourism with a responsibility for outbound as well as the inbound and domestic sectors.