Tourism: Minister told to be a champion of Britain

The Prime Minister – who told Yorkshire Post readers this spring if he won the election he wanted a strong Tourism Minister after a string of short-term appointments under Labour – backed John Penrose to be a success.

Mr Penrose was chosen because he represents a seaside constituency – Weston-super-Mare – so understands the importance of tourism, and has been challenged to make the job his own for the long term.

Mr Cameron told the Yorkshire Post: "I chose someone with a tourism constituency so I said to him this is something I want you to think of doing for not one month or two months but years.

"It's a really important job and his instruction is to increase our share of world tourism – to make sure we're doing better at winning Chinese people for instance.

"He's a bright man, very talented and I think he'll be a very good Tourism Minister. His instruction is to get around the country, understand all the needs of the tourism businesses in our country and enlarge our share of what is a fast growing world market."

Tourism is worth 6.3bn a year to the Yorkshire economy and both the Tories and Liberal Democrats were highly critical of the lack of status given to tourism ministers under Labour.

As Tourism and Heritage Minister Mr Penrose, who said he is "delighted" to have been given the job, will also be responsible for Royal Parks, National Lottery, licensing and horse racing.

Meanwhile, Mr Cameron has revealed he will holiday at home this year, saying: "I try and buy British. The last car I bought was a Honda built in Swindon, I'll be having a British holiday this year, partly because my wife is going to be eight months' pregnant by the time we get on it. I try to buy local."