Author: Sara Barton

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

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

SSDA Newsletter February 2024

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…
Read more

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

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

SSDA Newsletter January 2024

Join our CEO David Hope-Jones 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 Updated Membership Proposition Upcoming Events and Webinars Destination Development Plans for 2024 Our Recent and Upcoming Marketing and Media Activities Regional News for the…
Read more

SSDA Newsletter December 2023

The corks were popping as the region celebrated its best ever performance at the national Scottish Thistle Awards for the tourism and hospitality sector – businesses from Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders scooped six national awards at the glitzy ceremony in Glasgow, smashing the previous regional record of three and making the South of…
Read more

Study finds £6 million local economic impact from Cycling World Championships

The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships are estimated to have had a direct economic impact on the Scottish Borders of over £6million, Councillors heard today at a meeting of the Executive Committee. Glentress Forest host venue Glentress Forest, one of Scotland’s most renowned mountain bike locations, was a proud host venue for the Championships which…
Read more

Best in Show! South of Scotland triumphs with record-smashing six national Thistle Awards

Region makes history by scooping its highest ever number of Scottish Thistle Awards celebrating excellence in tourism and hospitality including the Silver Thistle Award for David and Wilma Finlay at the Ethical Dairy CORKS are popping across the South of Scotland as the region celebrates a sensational performance at the national Scottish Thistle Awards for…
Read more

South of Scotland tourism stars aim to break regional record at Scottish Thistle Awards national finals

Regional businesses preparing to fly the flag for Dumfries & Galloway and the Scottish Borders at glittering ceremony in Glasgow  The crème de la crème of tourism and hospitality in the South of Scotland will be tested against their counterparts from the rest of the country as the sector’s leading lights gather in Glasgow for…
Read more