Tasmania's Premier insists a new ministry is more than a tokenistic recognition of Tasmania's hospitality industry.

Mr Bartlett announced the new hospitality portfolio at an industry breakfast in Hobart this morning.

Michelle O'Byrne will add it to her role as Tourism Minister.

Mr Bartlett says the new portfolio ties into his vision of Tasmania as the nation's food bowl.

"The first job that this new minister will have will be to sit down with the hospitality sector and map out a plan for the future so we get the policy settings right, and particularly around skills and the links to the rest of the food bowl strategy right," he said.

Ms O'Byrne will be the first hospitality minister in the country.

Tasmania's hospitality industry has welcomed the move.

Steve Old from the Tasmanian Hotels, Restaurant and Catering Association, says it has been lobbying for a separate portfolio to tourism for some time.

"We're part of the tourism industry but we're completely different," he said.

"We've got different priorities, I mean, we're accommodation, we're restaurants, we're alcohol issues.

"That's what we need to do, we need a minister that's focused on our issues."