A striking new interactive sculpture of the world’s first pedal bicycle has been installed on the West Pier in Stranraer at the official start point of a major cycle route – the Kirkpatrick C2C: South of Scotland’s Coast to Coast. 250 mile coast to coast route The awe-inspiring route is 250 miles – making it…
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From frolicking lambs and bursts of bluebells to arts festivals and historic houses, a new campaign by the South of Scotland Destination Alliance (SSDA) celebrates springtime as one of the most magical times to visit the Scottish Borders and Dumfries and Galloway, providing all the information holidaymakers need to plan the perfect spring escape. Fittingly…
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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…
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The SSDA’s CEO, David Hope-Jones OBE has written and opinion piece which has been published in The Herald as SSDA Annual Conference is held in Dumfries. Picture this: you’re finishing up at your desk, ready to clock off for some well-earned annual leave. As a final task, you pop on your out-of-office message, letting colleagues…
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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…
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The SSDA is a member-led network. Everything we do is informed by listening to our members and understanding the needs, concerns and priorities of the businesses, enterprises and communities of the South of Scotland. Every March we have a member survey to take stock of where we are as a network. We invite members and…
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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…
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Join our CEO David Hope-Jones OBE 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 Conference News – Speakers and Programme Upcoming Events and Webinars Current Destination Development Activities Support on Working with the Travel Trade Update…
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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…
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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…
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