ESSEX'S tourism board is looking for "leaders with vision" to join its board and encourage more people to visit the county.

Visit Essex is seeking people with experience of working in the tourism, leisure and hospitality industries to attend its board meetings.

The voluntary appointments, which will start in June, would include attending quarterly board meetings and working group events.

Tourism contributes nearly £3billion per year to Essex's economy, responsible for employing 55,000 people and making it a key industry for the county.

Visit Essex aims to make the most of the expanding transport opportunities in the county, including Southend and Stansted airports, rail routes, and cruise ports at Tilbury and Harwich, including ferry services from Holland.

Essex has the longest coastline of any English county, while 70 per cent of land remains rural.

Lisa Bone, strategic tourism manager for Visit Essex said: “We’re looking for the new members to help us set the vision for tourism in the county from the short to medium term.

“Our candidates should have experience or an interest in the tourism industry and have skills in areas such as finance, funding and marketing.”

George Kieffer, chairman of Visit Essex says: “Essex is a dynamic place, with a proud tradition of entrepreneurship and business savvy, allied with superb customer service and attention to detail.

“On top of that, there are individuals who love this county, making them wonderful ambassadors and champions for Essex.

"I want those people sharing their experience, passion and talent on this board. If that sounds like you, please do get in touch.”

The Visit Essex board has created a "strategic roadmap" for 2016 to 2018, which promotes business and tourism growth in the county.

Anyone interested in joining the board is asked to email their CV, with a covering letter outlining why they would like to be a board member, to lisa.bone@essex.gov.uk.

For more information, call 01245 437305.

The closing date for applications is Friday, May 6.