Economic and environmental sustainability are on the agenda at a summit of tourism leaders today.

Figures from the tourism sector across the UK are coming together to discuss key issues facing the industry at the Eden Tourism Summit, organised by Eden District Council, at the North Lakes Hotel and Spa, in Penrith.

More than 100 people are expected to attend the day-long event to hear from keynote speakers.

The main theme of the event is sustainability and how the industry can adapt and develop to meet the changing needs of visitors.

The summit is being chaired by Jim Walker, chair of the Eden Tourism Network.

He said the summit came at at time when "people are quite challenged" by the political climate.

"I can't remember a time when it's been quite so unpredictable," he said.

However, he said there was good news to celebrate in the form of growing numbers of visitors to Eden, totalling five million a year, as well as the potential for Cumbria to be selected as one of the Government's new tourism zones.

Cumbria has applied to be one of five tourism zones in the UK, announced as part of the Government's Tourism Sector Deal in June.

"If that happens that will give us various advantages and funding," said Jim.

Communities and businesses needed to make sure they protected the economic and employment benefits that the industry brought, he said.

"There's never been a more important time than now to work really closely together as an industry."

Leader of Eden District Council Coun Virginia Taylor said: "In times of social and political change that's when stuff happens."

She urged businesses and the community to work with the council to develop creative ideas and to maintain the industry in the area at the same time as protecting the environment.

"This is the time when you and your council can do something about this," she said.

She reminded people that Cumbria Tourism is holding an event to help businesses prepare for Brexit at the Low Wood Bay Hotel on October 29 from 10am to 4pm.

Other keynote speakers include Mike Innerdale, director of The National Trust in the north; Kurt Janson, director of the Tourism Alliance; Anna Harris, market intelligence consultant at VisitBritain, and Helen Tate, research manager at Cumbria Tourism.