The economy is entering more uncertain and more demanding times than at any time in the last couple of decades - and with it, the tourism industry.

It is at times like this that businesses need government support in order to survive the impending downturn. If the support is not positive then, at least, it needs a benign tax and regulatory regime that does not aim to extract additional money through taxes, and one that does not impose extra costs through more regulations.

Yet recent decisions - the abolition of the Hotel Buildings Allowance, the reduction in capital allowances (some of them retrospective), the imposition of more and more regulations (many difficult to interpret and costly to implement) point to a government that does not appear to care about the damage that it causes.

Now, the independent report on tourism by the all-party House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee only re-emphasises some of the industry's concerns about the government: its stand-off attitude to tourism; the DCMS's lack of impact on other government departments; 'baffling' decisions being made (in cutting VisitBritain's grant-in-aid); the lack of any special funding for the 2012 Olympic Games; and the lack of any real progress (ie: no funds) by DCMS in providing reliable tourism statistics on which future decisions can reliably be made.

All these point to a government that is not supporting the industry in key areas.

The report's criticisms echo widespread industry concerns of the perceived lack of support - even interest - for tourism on the part of the DCMS. With seven tourism ministers since June 1997, this may not be surprising. Nevertheless, the approach is really not good enough for an industry that is worth some £100bn annually, employing over two million people.

It is gratifying that, if nothing else, (and there is much else in it) this independent report endorses the industry's long-held belief that tourism is widely viewed as an afterthought by government and is not regarded as a key sector of the economy.

This is why the Tourism Alliance recently launched its 'Take Tourism Seriously' campaign and why the BHA is such a strong supporter of the campaign. Unless government does take the industry seriously, tourism is in grave danger of moving backwards, rather than forwards. Businesses and jobs will be put in jeopardy.

Undoubtedly, the industry's biggest challenge now is to encourage government to recognise that tourism is one of the country's key, growth industries and one that is certainly capable of earning much more in the future if we nurture it, invest in it - and if the government leaves it alone.

Persuading the government to take tourism seriously is a critical factor in the industry's future success. We all have a stake in the success of this campaign. Readers - particularly those in tourism constituencies - can play their part by lobbying their MP. The Alliance can play its part but it needs the support of every business in the industry in order to succeed.