The government has announced it will team up with the tourism and hospitality sector to focus on improving skills, increasing the quality and quantity of jobs available and boosting enterprise in the industry.

The new Tourism Council – to be comprised of an industry-led board of employers and leading players in the sector – was unveiled by tourism minister Helen Grant at the British Hospitality Association (BHA) annual summit.

Due to meet for the first time next month, the council will aim to share and develop best practice so that tourism continues to thrive. It will be co-chaired by Grant, minister for skills and enterprise Matthew Hancock, and Simon Vincent – a senior industry representative from Hilton Worldwide.

The council will be made up of 22 members representing industries engaged in transportation, hospitality, entertainment, travel and accommodation. Signed up members include VisitBritain, VisitEngland and the British Hospitality Association along with companies such as Whitbread, easyjet, John Lewis and Expedia.

It will look at increasing the availability and take up of apprenticeships and improve training and development within the sector.

Writing in his column for the latest edition of Leisure Opportunities Tourism Alliance policy director Kurt Janson hailed the news as a step in the right direction.

“The tourism industry has for some years now been making the case to government that it should treat the tourism sector as a valid industry that is vital for rebalancing and providing growth for the economy,” he said.

“This lobbying has finally paid off with the very welcome announcement by government that there is to be a new industry council established for the tourism and hospitality sector along the lines of other industry council that have been established to support other sectors.”