Regional News

The SSDA invites SSDA members to a special digital meeting with the Chief Corporate Officer of Center Parcs UK, Mr Raj Singh-Deha, to discuss the proposed new Center Parcs holiday village between Hawick and Selkirk.   Thursday 27th February 2025 3.30 – 4.30pm Book your place here   It was announced on the 5th November 2024…

The deadline for submissions to the NatureScot consultation on the proposed Galloway National Park is 14th February and we strongly encourage all visitor economy businesses to feed in their views before then.  Take part here.   Visitor economy businesses keen to learn more about the impact of national parks are encouraged to join a webinar…

The South of Scotland’s efforts to become one of the world’s leading cycling destinations has been recognised with a nomination for a global award. The South has been shortlisted for the inaugural UCI Cycling for All & Sustainability Awards in the UCI Bike City Category. Unlocking the Power of the Bike The submission – entitled…

The new national astronomical observatory will be located at Clatteringshaws Loch within the Galloway Forest Park, Scotland’s only Gold Tier Dark Sky Park  More than three years after being destroyed by a fire, The Scottish Dark Sky Observatory is set to have a new home in Dumfries & Galloway on the banks of Clatteringshaws Loch…

The 12 winners of the region’s second annual Thistle Awards flew the flag for the South of Scotland at last night’s national awards ceremony, securing four victories  Leading lights of tourism and hospitality in the South of Scotland celebrated at the national Scottish Thistle Awards ceremony in Glasgow last night, taking home four awards altogether,…

Thirty tourism businesses, social enterprises and community groups have been supported to help the South of Scotland become one of the leading cycling destinations in the world. The £300,000 South of Scotland Cycling Infrastructure Fund provided capital grants of £3,000 to £25,000 to the organisations who own visitor facing assets to invest in their cycling…

New data reveals growth of visitor economy in the South of Scotland as the Deputy First Minister visits the Scottish Borders, meeting business leaders.    With Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes visiting the Scottish Borders, new independent tourism data has been announced showing the development of the visitor economy in the South of Scotland and the impact of the South…

The latest STEAM (Scottish tourism economic impact modelling) data has been released for the South of Scotland, covering the year 2023, and it shows an incredible 20% increase in the size of our visitor economy, rising by £149m to £911 million, and a 14% increase in the total number of jobs, to 15,652.   Download…