One of the UK’s top political journalists has encouraged the travel industry to “get in there early” with the government’s new tourism and aviation ministers.
Tim Shipman, chief political commentator at The Sunday Times and author, said new tourism minister Sir Chris Bryant had “yet to cross my radar in any meaningful way” but that there were some “feisty ministers in the department who may turn out to be quite good”.
In his keynote speech at the 2024 Travel Weekly Future of Travel Conference, sponsored by Seabourn, Shipman said the travel sector should aim to spell out its main issues and wishes to new ministers early into their tenures.
More: Major travel firms give mixed sales predictions ahead of autumn budget
“You need to get in there early, talk to them, get them to do what you want them to do – get them to champion your stuff,” he said.
“Inexperienced ministers need missions, they need to know what they’re up to. If they haven’t got a clear idea, the first six months is a good opportunity for any sector to get in there and steer them.”
He added: “If you can help solve some of their problems and give them something that they can tell me about, then you’ll all be happy.”
Shipman said Bryant “has got a bit of an ego”, adding that “when a minister has an ego it normally means they want to do something”.
Bryant was named as the new tourism minister in July by Labour transport secretary Louise Haigh following his appointment as minister of state at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), after Mike Kane had been appointed as the new aviation minister.
Kane had acted as shadow aviation minister since 2020 and is well-known in the aviation industry.
Lillian Greenwood, MP for Nottingham South, was appointed a parliamentary under-secretary at the Department for Transport (DfT) having acted as shadow minister for arts and heritage.
Haigh also appointed Simon Lightwood, MP for Wakefield and Rothwell, as a parliamentary under-secretary.