Category: Press Release

South of Scotland aims to become Scotland’s “Fastest Growing Visitor Economy by 2034” as Partners unveil New Responsible Tourism Strategy

Launching the South of Scotland Responsible Tourism Strategy, left to right:  Steve Rogers, Head of Economy and Development, Dumfries and Galloway Council; Scottish Borders Council Leader Euan Jardine; Councillor Scott Hamilton, Scottish Borders Council’s Executive Member for Community and Business Development; David Hope-Jones, Chief Executive of the South of Scotland Destination Alliance; Tourism Minister Richard…
Read more

Print Friendly, PDF & EmailPrintFriendly
External view of the Peebles Hydro, a hotel, set with blue sky and green rolling hills. The hotel will be the venue for the South of Scotland THistle Awards 2024.

Peebles Hydro named as venue for the 2024 South of Scotland Thistle Awards as entries open to local businesses

TOURISM and hospitality businesses in Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders are being encouraged to enter the South of Scotland Thistle Awards 2024, back after a brilliantly successful inaugural year to celebrate the leading lights of the region’s burgeoning visitor economy. Awards organisers the South of Scotland Destination Alliance (SSDA) announced that Peebles Hydro…
Read more

Print Friendly, PDF & EmailPrintFriendly

The Thistle Awards are back for 2024, honouring the South of Scotland’s magnificent tourism and hospitality sector

After a hugely successful first year, the South of Scotland’s regional Thistle Awards are back for 2024, showcasing the finest in Scottish tourism and hospitality across the region, with nominations open from 1 March and a dedicated online session on offer to help businesses craft a winning entry. Spearheaded at national level by VisitScotland, in…
Read more

Print Friendly, PDF & EmailPrintFriendly

Over 65 million Cycling World Championships viewers tune in to see the South of Scotland at its best

Wellbeing Secretary Mairi McAllan and Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands Mairi Gougeon joined South of Scotland Cycling Partners, as well as Esther Tacke and Warren Sanders of local business Galloway Cycling Holidays, to mark the economic impact of 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships in the South of Scotland. Over 65million broadcast…
Read more

Print Friendly, PDF & EmailPrintFriendly

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

Print Friendly, PDF & EmailPrintFriendly

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

Print Friendly, PDF & EmailPrintFriendly

SSDA launches inclusive ‘Basic’ membership for all

  Following the South of Scotland’s remarkable successes in 2023, the SSDA is excited to announce an evolution in its membership proposition for 2024. The SSDA is keen to become the largest, most inclusive, energetic and impactful destination management and marketing organisation in Scotland.  We want our consumer-facing destination brand, ‘Scotland Starts Here’ to be…
Read more

Print Friendly, PDF & EmailPrintFriendly

Town Where Auld Lang Syne Was Written Issues Rallying Cry To Be Recognised As The Bard’s True Home

Campaigners in Dumfries call for the town to be recognised as the place where Robert Burns lived, loved, worked and died As revellers link arms around the world to welcome 2024 with a rendition of Auld Lang Syne, a new action group in the South of Scotland has launched a campaign to celebrate Dumfriesshire’s unparalleled…
Read more

Print Friendly, PDF & EmailPrintFriendly

Galloway & Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere named on Rough Guides ‘Best Destinations’ for 2024

The Galloway & Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere has achieved its second international travel accolade in as many months as Scotland’s UNESCO Trail is named on Rough Guides’ much anticipated list of the ’24 best destinations to visit in 2024’. Globally recognised as world class for people and nature, the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere…
Read more

Print Friendly, PDF & EmailPrintFriendly

New Campaign Highlights How The South Of Scotland Dazzles In The Darker Months

The latest Scotland Starts Here campaign features a must-do winter ‘Bucket List’ showcasing the best of the region in the chilly season, including starry picnics and coo spotting.  A new winter ‘Bucket List’ has been created by the South of Scotland Destination Alliance (SSDA) as part of its ‘Scotland Starts Here’ promotional campaign to highlight…
Read more

Print Friendly, PDF & EmailPrintFriendly
News Archive

SOUTH OF SCOTLAND DESTINATION ALLIANCE

The South of Scotland Destination Alliance (SSDA) is the strategic Destination Management and Marketing Organisation for the South of Scotland, encompassing Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders.

CONTACT US

General Enquiries info@ssdalliance.com

Contact the Team

Privacy Policy
NEWSLETTER SIGNUP
Click Here

FOLLOW US

South of Scotland Destination Alliance

© 2025 South of Scotland Destination Alliance.
Website by Black Sheep Digital.