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.
With the
region’s tourism industry currently facing its biggest ever crisis and an
anticipated recovery period of three to five years, we believe, now more than
ever before, that our role and function is critically important to the recovery
and future economy of the South.
SSDA will lead
the delivery of a clear tourism strategy from coast to coast, supporting the
best possible recovery plan for the sector and the wider economy of the South
of Scotland. With a focus on place-making, people, digital capability and
sustainability, the ambition of SSDA is to make the South a top tourism
destination, offer a world-class visitor experience and drive multi-million pound
growth in tourism spend.
We want our local sector to thrive and prosper and so our key
priorities in the coming months will be:
- Establishing
‘Scotland Starts Here’ as the destination brand for the region, developing
short and long term marketing plans targeting both domestic and international
visitors. This is on the back of the MBTAG activity delivered to date through
Midlothian and the Scottish Borders and will now also include Dumfries and
Galloway
- Engaging members on a local
level and working closely with the industry on recovery, product development,
business readiness and future workforce education
- Strategic destination
development planning, focused on understanding the region’s longer term needs
to inform capital and infrastructure investments
- Working actively with local
communities to demonstrate the value of the tourism sector and to cement its
part in the place-making activity of the South
- Working closely with South of
Scotland Enterprise and representing the needs of the industry amongst local
and national governments
SSDA is
supported by South of Scotland Enterprise Agency, South of Scotland Enterprise
Partnership, VisitScotland, Dumfries and Galloway Council and Scottish Borders
Council and also received funding from the former South of Scotland Enterprise
Partnership.
The SSDA board currently comprises:

David Ibbotson
Chair of SSDA
Knickinaam Lodge, Dumfries & Galloway

Douglas McMillan
Director of SSDA
McMillan Hotels Dumfries & Galloway

Melanie Allen
Director of SSDA
Nithbank, Dumfries & Galloway

John Henderson
Director of SSDA
Born in the Borders, Scottish Borders

Will Haegelend
Director of SSDA
Cringletie, Scottish Borders

Vicki Steel
Director of SSDA
Aikwood Tower, Scottish Borders

Patrica Picken
Director of SSDA
Solway View Holidays, Dumfries & Galloway
Introducing the SSDA Team
AREA | GEOGRAPHICAL AREA |
---|---|
AREA 1 - West | Stranraer & the Rhinns of Galloway |
Wigtown | |
Galloway | |
Solway Firth / Coast | |
AREA 2 - Central | Nithsdale |
Dumfries | |
Annan and Eskdale | |
Selkirkshire | |
Hawick, Denholm and Hermitage | |
AREA 3 - East | Tweeddale |
Galashiels | |
Leaderdale and Melrose | |
Berwickshire | |
Kelso, Jedburgh and Districts |