Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (ALVA) director Bernard Donoghue has been elected chair of the Tourism Alliance – the representative body for more than 200,000 businesses across the whole of the tourism industry.

ALVA was instrumental in creating the Alliance in 2001 to provide an industry-wide lobbying voice to government and the media. Its membership covers all sectors, from aviation to shipping, restaurants and hotels, destinations and B&Bs, caravans to attractions, sector skills and home parks. Donoghue was deputy chair prior to be being elected chair at the AGM in July 2015.

“I’m delighted and excited to be taking on this role at this time; we have new Ministers, a new government, and new tourism strategy and a new Parliament," said Donoghue.

"Our work in briefing party leaders, spokespeople and manifesto writers prior to the General Election was hugely successful and I wish to build and develop the political understanding of our industry and see that translated into policy and financial investment in our future success."