Author: Sara Barton

NEW TOURISM STRATEGY TO BE LAUNCHED AT “BIGGER AND BETTER THAN EVER” SOUTH OF SCOTLAND CONFERENCE

Speakers at the 2024 South of Scotland Destination Alliance Conference include clockwise from top left: Richard Lochhead MSP;  Mary Jane Brett, Johnnie Walker Princes Street Experience ; Dr Martin Valenti, Director of Net Zero, SOSE;  Paul Ralph, Partners in Access;  Bruce Fummey, Comedian and Tour Guide; Carron Tobin, Executive Director with SCOTO SSDA Annual Conference…
Read more

Burns is back in town! Dumfries welcomes the bard as he revisits his favourite haunts

Scotland’s National Poet braved the winter storms to revisit some of his favourite Dumfries haunts before Burns Night this Thursday.  His visit marks the start of a new joint campaign to establish Dumfries as The Bard’s Town. The Burns Tourism Partnership aims to celebrate Dumfriesshire’s unparalleled connections to Robert Burns, as the region where the…
Read more

SSDA Newsletter January 2024

Join our CEO David Hope-Jones as he walks you through all the latest news from the SSDA from the past month – it sure has been busy! This newsletter focuses on: SSDA’s Updated Membership Proposition Upcoming Events and Webinars Destination Development Plans for 2024 Our Recent and Upcoming Marketing and Media Activities Regional News for the…
Read more

SSDA Newsletter December 2023

The corks were popping as the region celebrated its best ever performance at the national Scottish Thistle Awards for the tourism and hospitality sector – businesses from Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders scooped six national awards at the glitzy ceremony in Glasgow, smashing the previous regional record of three and making the South of…
Read more

Study finds £6 million local economic impact from Cycling World Championships

The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships are estimated to have had a direct economic impact on the Scottish Borders of over £6million, Councillors heard today at a meeting of the Executive Committee. Glentress Forest host venue Glentress Forest, one of Scotland’s most renowned mountain bike locations, was a proud host venue for the Championships which…
Read more

Best in Show! South of Scotland triumphs with record-smashing six national Thistle Awards

Region makes history by scooping its highest ever number of Scottish Thistle Awards celebrating excellence in tourism and hospitality including the Silver Thistle Award for David and Wilma Finlay at the Ethical Dairy CORKS are popping across the South of Scotland as the region celebrates a sensational performance at the national Scottish Thistle Awards for…
Read more

South of Scotland tourism stars aim to break regional record at Scottish Thistle Awards national finals

Regional businesses preparing to fly the flag for Dumfries & Galloway and the Scottish Borders at glittering ceremony in Glasgow  The crème de la crème of tourism and hospitality in the South of Scotland will be tested against their counterparts from the rest of the country as the sector’s leading lights gather in Glasgow for…
Read more

Three’s a charm: SSDA appoints new Board Members

Joining the South of Scotland Destination Alliance Board are (L to R) Esther Tacke, Sian Downes and Keith Mundell. They join as tourism leaders from the activity, events and visitor attraction sectors and and they will be helping promote sustainable tourism and thriving communities in Dumfries & Galloway and the Scottish Borders Members of the…
Read more

Borderlands named as 5G Innovation Region by UK Government

The Borderlands has been named as one of 10 new 5G Innovation Regions to share in a £36 million fund from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. The successful areas will lead on delivering the Government’s vision for communities across the UK to take full advantage of the transformative effect that advanced wireless connectivity…
Read more

How to seize green energy solutions to help boost your business’ finances

Britain is home to a wealth of innovative and forward-thinking businesses within the tourism and leisure sector who recognise the importance of moving towards a greener future. With 5.5 million small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) in the country, ScottishPower has launched new advice to support business leaders in the tourism and leisure sector through this transition by adopting green technologies that…
Read more