It's been called 'a new dawn' for Broads Tourism.

A new chairman has been elected from among the group's 50-plus operators, setting a bold agenda for attracting more visitors to the Norfolk beauty spot.

Greg Munford, chief executive of Broads-based tourism business Richardson's Leisure, took on the group's top job at a members' meeting at the Fur and Feather Inn at Woodbastwick yesterday.

Mr Munford is Broads Tourism's first chairman since Simon Partridge stepped down in January.

He said he wanted to focus on promoting the Broads National Park brand.

Mr Munford said: 'There are only 15 national parks within the UK and we're the only lowland wetland national park.'

About 50 Broads Tourism members were at the meeting, which also saw the launch of a new members' programme for 2016/2017.

Mr Munford said he hoped to double the number of the number of members to more than 100 within the next year. He said: 'Membership will be a no-brainer because of the opportunities, the discounts and the benefits we will be able to offer.'

Bruce Hanson, tourism officer for the Broads Authority, said: 'I feel very optimistic about the future of tourism here. With a new chairman, it's about to be re-energised.

'There's a really high feel-good factor and many of the operators I've spoken to think it's going to be a great season.'

After a High Court judicial review about the Broads' status last year, the tourism board was allowed to market the area as the Broads National Park, even though it is not legally a national park.

Do you have a story about tourism in the Broads? Email Lauren Cope at lauren.cope@archant.co.uk