Who Is the PS for Tourism?

By Robert Palmer

If you’re interested in tourism, you may have heard of the PS for Tourism. But who exactly is this person and what do they do?

What is a PS?

First, let’s define what a PS is. PS stands for Permanent Secretary and it is a high-ranking civil servant in the UK government. The role of a PS is to provide leadership and strategic direction to their department, as well as manage the day-to-day operations.

The Role of the PS for Tourism

The PS for Tourism is responsible for overseeing the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport’s (DCMS) tourism policy. This includes developing strategies to promote tourism in the UK, working with stakeholders to improve the visitor experience, and ensuring that tourism supports economic growth.

In addition to this, the PS for Tourism also works closely with other government departments such as the Home Office and Foreign Office to ensure that policies relating to immigration and travel are aligned with tourism objectives.

Who Is Currently in This Role?

As of August 2021, the current PS for Tourism is Susannah Walker. She has been in this role since September 2020 and has extensive experience in both the public and private sectors.

Prior to her appointment as PS for Tourism, Walker was Director General at DCMS where she led on issues such as digital connectivity and media regulation. Before joining DCMS, she worked at Ofcom (the UK’s communications regulator) and also worked in various roles within the private sector.

Conclusion

The job of a Permanent Secretary may not be well-known outside of government circles but it plays an important role in shaping policy and ensuring that government departments operate efficiently. The current holder of this position – Susannah Walker – brings a wealth of experience to her role as PS for Tourism and will no doubt continue to play an important part in promoting tourism in the UK.