Late yesterday it emerged that John Penrose, the popular minister for tourism, was resigning his post.
The move came after Prime Minister David Cameron decided to reduce the size of the Culture, Media & Sports Department now that the Olympics have finished.
It's not yet clear who, among the reduced pool of ministers, is set to take over the post and how much time they will have to devote towards this industry's interests.
After all the talk of the Olympics creating a legacy for tourism, is this move appropriate? Does the industry need the representation of a dedicated minister, or does it make little difference? I'd be interested to hear some thoughts!
Perhaps this is a good time to follow the example of Mexico whose Minister for Tourism is also head of the nation’s tourist board? I don’t suppose she wastes any time lobbying herself but instead is dedicated to serving the needs of one very important industry.