Michael Hirst, OBE and chair of the Business Visits & Events Partnership (BVEP), has been elected chair of the Tourism Alliance, the tourism industry’s umbrella body, representing more than 50 organisations.

His key objectives will be to maintain the momentum for tourism created by the Olympics and the Jubilee celebrations and ensure Government support to maximise the tourism legacy.

“The Alliance’s new three-year strategy identifies the core issues that affect the international competitiveness of the UK tourism industry that the Government must address if the tourism legacy of hosting the Olympics is to be realised,“ he said. “These issues are: reducing regulatory burden, facilitating visa applications, providing adequate aviation capacity, reducing VAT, reviewing Air Passenger Duty and providing more support for tourism marketing."

Hirst, who in a long career in tourism was formerly chair and chief executive of Hilton International, is a long-standing supporter of the UK events industry through his work with BVEP. He launched the 2012 Britain for Events campaign earlier this month.

He added: "The Business Visits and Events Partnership has been a long-standing supporter of the Tourism Alliance since its inception 10 years ago. To take on its leadership shows how far the recognition of the events sector has come.”

Pictured: Michael Hirst