The newest member of Cumbria Tourism’s Executive Committee is hoping to ensure businesses in the north of the county get a decent slice of the county’s tourism pie.

Tazeem Abbas runs The Tranquil Otter accommodation near Carlisle, and helped found More Than The Lakes, a group that promotes North Cumbria as a quality tourism destination.

She is hoping that her new role on the executive committee will allow her to continue to promote the north of the county as being just as good a place to visit as the Lake District.

An active member of the Cumbrian business community, Tazeem is also a member of Carlisle Ambassadors, through The Tranquil Otter.

She says that more should be done to showcase Carlisle and Hadrian’s Wall as a big part of the Cumbrian offer to tourists.

She said: “We should look at Cumbria as a whole not just the Lake District National Park.

“Hadrian’s Wall is a great destination and we should be promoting that both nationally and internationally.

“I think that there isn’t always that strong tourism business community presence in North Cumbria, but I want to encourage that, which is why we joined Carlisle Ambassadors as well.

“I don’t want to detract from the Lake District or steal business from there, just get more people to come to the county as a whole.”

The businesswoman also said that people from big cities like London and Birmingham don’t see the same dividing lines as some Cumbrian people do, between the Lake District and other areas of the county.

“I was a member of Cumbria Tourism in the past and have re-joined because I see the real value that it brings to the county."