Life peer Lord Syed Kamall has been named new tourism minister as part of the ongoing government reshuffle under new prime minister Liz Truss.
The former technology, innovation and life sciences minister also takes responsibility for civic society, heritage and growth alongside tourism at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS).
He succeeds Nigel Huddleston who has moved to the Whips Office after two and a half years on the role.
Lord Kamal previously worked as an IT business systems analyst and is professor of politics and international regulations at St Mary’s University in Twickenham.
He was a Conservative MEP for London for 14 years until 2019 and leader of the European Conservatives and made a life peer in 2021.
UKhospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls was among the first to welcome him to the role.
She tweeted: “We welcome Lord Syed Kamall to his new role as minister for tourism – our third largest export earner – and look forward to working with him and DCMS to implement Tourism Recovery Plan to boost the sector and generate jobs, growth and investment at pace.”