Stephanie Peacock, who was appointed minister for sport, tourism, civil society and youth in September, said agents "can be an amazing option for holidaymakers who aren’t confident in planning trips".
"It’s also a great way to support small, local businesses in your area," she said. "Before technology advanced to what it is today, travel agencies were often the only option available for booking a holiday and still are for many people.
"I have only ever had positive and efficient experiences when using an agent or agency in the past and would absolutely use them again."
However, Peacock stopped short of backing a campaign to encourage more consumers to use agents, which typically offer more financial protection.
She said: “Travel agents are a long-standing staple of our tourism industry and are a tried and trusted way to book a holiday, whether that’s abroad or domestically.
"But we also know that where the tourism industry and technology have progressed, the modern consumer values autonomy and flexibility. It's important tourists have the option to choose how they travel.”
Peacock’s role has traditionally focused on inbound tourism. However, her predecessor Sir Chris Bryant said he regarded outbound tourism as being equally important.
No dedicated minister for travel or tourism
Peacock pledged to work with all parts of the industry, saying: “I want to ensure we work with the whole of the tourism sector, including those who work in inbound, outbound and domestic tourism.”
Like several of her predecessors, Peacock ruled out the idea of a dedicated tourism minister. She explained: “Tourism is a key part of my brief, and I am completely committed to doing all I can to ensure it can continue to thrive.
"So many parts of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport remit have an impact on tourism, and I think it’s beneficial for the sector for it to sit within a broader brief.”
Peacock outlined her key goals for the industry over the next 12 months, which mainly centre on the UK as a destination. “Our tourism industry is worth £74 billion to the economy and has a huge potential for further growth to support the government's central growth mission,” she said.
“That’s one of the many reasons we are so passionate about fulfilling our promise to grow the UK’s annual international visitors to 50 million by 2030.
“Everyone knows London is a fantastic city to explore, but so much of the UK is untapped by domestic and international visitors – in fact, when asked by VisitBritain, more than half of international visitors could not imagine what there was in the UK outside of London.
“So, as we approach our 2030 target, as part of our Plan for Growth, we are determined to show international tourists just how much more there is to see if they explore the regional offer of the UK, from the coast of Cornwall to the hills of the Highlands.”
