The inability of the government in the last 13 years to take tourism seriously had been a major concern for the industry, says Bob Cotton, CEO of the British Hospitality Association.
Now, with the election of a coalition government, we have reason to look forward to the future with a greater degree of confidence than we would have if Labour had been re-elected
Looking back on the last decade or so, it's striking how the government of the day added cost and reduced operational flexibility by introducing regulation after regulation - many emanating from Brussels - which tied operators' hands in increasing bundles of red tape. And by abolishing tax breaks for hotel investment and cutting back on capital allowances, it sent all the wrong signals to private investors.
Government thus gave every impression of ignoring the industry barely acknowledging its £114bn contribution to the UK economy and not recognising the fact that tourism is the economic driver of many regions of the country, including London. Little surprise then that the Tourism Alliance launched its Take Tourism Seriously campaign in 2008.
Last year I told Gordon Brown that the industry had four key concerns: not adding to the burden of regulation, not to increase industry's costs, to encourage investment and to promote tourism.
When I interviewed Margaret Hodge, then the Tourism Minister at this year's Hotelympia, and asked what had been done by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport to address these concerns, very little was the underlying message. Indeed, the onward advance of red tape continued and there was no progress on any of the other issues. Clearly, government never did take tourism seriously..
Will this change now that we have a Coalition government? We must hope so. We widely welcome both Conservative and Liberal Democrat pledges to reverse this approach but pledges are one thing, action is another.
Nevertheless, there were positive comments in the Conservative party's tourism manifesto, particularly relating to the revitalisation of resorts and the establishment of tourism growth zones; the appointment of a Tourism Minister, without any other responsibilities - another promise - has already been made.
It is early days but we look forward to a greater government belief in the value of tourism to the UK economy. What tourism needs are measures that will nurture it and enable it to fulfil its potential as one of the country's principal economic drivers.
Bob Cotton leaves the BHA in July after ten years as chief executive. His successor is Ufi Ibrahim, chief operating officer, World Travel and Tourism Council.