British Hospitality Association (BHA) chief executive Bob Cotton has called for the new coalition government to act on pledges to support the UK tourism industry.

In the organisation's annual report, Cotton said the industry had reason to be optimistic about the future under the Conservative and Liberal Democrat administration. However, he urged the coalition government to show "evidence" it was prepared to support the tourism industry through reduced regulation and increased investment.

In his last annual report before leaving the BHA, Cotton said: "We look forward to evidence of a greater government belief in the value of tourism to the UK economy, with measures that will enable it to fulfil its potential as one of the country's principal economic drivers."