The Tourism Alliance has welcomed the appointment of Margaret Hodge as tourism minister.

Hodge, the MP for Barnet, was minister for children in the Department for Education and Skills and later part of the Department of Trade and Industry, but was promoted by Prime Minister Gordon Brown in his cabinet reshuffle.

Kurt Janson, policy director at the Tourism Alliance, said: “The most important challenges facing the tourism and hospitality sectors at the moment – and in the lead-up to the Olympic Games – are to improve skills across all levels of employment, to enhance the welcome that we provide to overseas visitors and enhance the quality of products and services.

“We therefore welcome Margaret Hodge's appointment with her background as Minister for Employment and Education and look forward to working with her on this issue and on other ways of increasing the competitiveness of the UK as a major international and domestic tourism destination.”