South of Scotland Thistle Awards 2023

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Scotland Starts Here

Start at the begining. You wouldn’t read a book from the middle, and the first page of Scotland’s great story starts in the South.

Scotland Starts Here is promoting its tourism members to audiences across Scotland, the UK and Worldwide.

Scotland Starts Here

Design A Trail Or Tour Competition

SSDA MEMBERSHIP

Membership of the SSDA is open to all tourism, hospitality and leisure businesses and organisations across the South of Scotland – or even anyone who loves our region and wants to invest in its future.

Stories Starts Here

Storytelling traditions of the Border Ballads, home to world-renowned writers. Wigtown Scotland’s National Book Town and The National Centre of Children’s Literature at Moat Brae.

The South of Scotland provides the perfect location for those seeking literary tourism.

SSDA Conference 2023

Celebrate, Shape & Develop Our Visitor Economy - The Future Of Our Visitor Economy

What can we do for you ?

By Becoming a Member..

Membership of SSDA will bring a host of tangible benefits to individual businesses, local marketing groups, suppliers, events, and social enterprises. As a member you will benefit from:

PLACE BRAND MARKETING

Putting the South of Scotland on the map through ‘Scotland Starts Here’ and driving a sustainable increase in visitors to the area. This will be done through; SSH Website, SSH APP and SSH Social Media channels which include Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.
Dedicated marketing campaigns and collaborative marketing campaigns with partners.

INDUSTRY REPRESENTATION

SSDA has direct representation to government and campaigns for sector recognition and investment as well as global representation at travel trade conferences and events.

DIGITAL IMPROVEMENT

Engage with your customers more effectively, maximising customer communication opportunities, meet evolving consumer expectation and reach audiences effectively including having excellent online visibility and bookability.

BUSINESS AND PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

Fulfil business potential through innovation, collaboration, creativity, and diversification.

Our Bespoke Members

Join the SSDA Today

Membership of the SSDA is open to all tourism, hospitality and leisure businesses
and organisations across the South of Scotland.

IMPACT

Since our inception the impact we have had on our Members in the South of Scotland has been huge

Members

People engaged with SSDA
on training and events

Growth in social
following on SSH

Our Latest News

The latest news from across the South of Scotland.

Life Begins at 40 for South of Scotland Tourism Awards

A Dumfries hotel is hosting a double celebration – its 40th anniversary as a family owned business and a showcase for tourism in the South of Scotland. Forty years since[…]

SOSE Summer Tour 2023

South of Scotland Enterprise will be visiting locations across the region to speak to communities, businesses and social enterprises through its new summer tour. Chair, Professor Russel Griggs, and Chief[…]

SSDA Newsletter May 2023

This month saw some fantastic coverage for the south of Scotland including a feature in National Geographic Traveller Food magazine on Castle Douglas and its thriving food and drink scene.[…]

Borders Book Festival launches competition to win weekend at the annual extravaganza this summer

The Borders Book Festival – this year celebrating its 20th edition – has launched an online competition to win a trip to the event at Harmony Garden, Melrose, in the Scottish[…]

Galloway County Fair reveals headliners

From Flyin’ Ryan to Riders of the Storm – two thrilling stunt riding acts will be among the prime attractions at this summer’s Galloway Country Fair. The headliners for the[…]

New tourism video showcases the Tweed Valley as a year-round activity destination

As the Tweed Valley prepares for one of its busiest tourism seasons ever, a new video has been launched to showcase the wealth of experiences, including hiking, wild swimming, canoeing[…]

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