Category: Internal Pages SSDA

Destination Tweed appoints Tourism Business Engagement Officer

Tourism Business Engagement Officer, Neen Kelly, appointed to help local businesses make the most of the River Tweed Trail. Photo: Lloyd Smith The £25 million Destination Tweed project has appointed destination development expert, Neen Kelly as Tourism Business Engagement Officer to help local businesses make the most of the opportunities provided by the planned River…
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Burns: from Birthplace to Burial

We welcomed Scotland’s Stories, Graeme Johncock and Molly the Labrador (the Barketing Manager!), to the South of Scotland in May 2024 to immerse himself in our Robert Burns experience. Read his blog here. PrintFriendly

Scottish Borders Planet Trail

The Scottish Borders Space Trail, also known as the Ancrum Astronomy Trail. There are two integrated elements to the installation; models of all eight planets as well as a hemispheric model of the sun itself (around 12.5 meters in diameter). The planets will be situated at their correct scaled positions between Jedburgh and Peebles and will also…
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New Dark Sky Network Formed

The Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere (GSAB) Partnership Board has established a Dark Sky Network sub-group, which the SSDA is part of, to promote and support the conservation of dark skies within the UNESCO Biosphere designated area and more widely across the south of Scotland, this includes supporting the preservation of existing designations and the…
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Shortlist And New Award Unveiled For The Returning South Of Scotland Thistle Awards

The South of Scotland shortlist for the region’s second dedicated Thistle Awards has been unveiled alongside the announcement of brand-new award category     The shortlist for the South of Scotland’s dedicated regional Thistle Awards – Scotland’s leading tourism and events industry accolades – has been revealed today alongside a brand-new award category.   Back following…
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Tourism Campaign Raises a Glass to Eight of the South of Scotland’s Food and Drink Legends

The South of Scotland Destination Alliance is celebrating local excellence thanks to funding secured through Scotland Food & Drink’s Regional Food Fund EIGHT trailblazing food and drink businesses, with an experience focus, are playing a starring role in a new promotional campaign delivered by the South of Scotland Destination Alliance (SSDA). Thanks to support from…
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Feb 2024 Locally Led Destination Development Meetings

Through February 2024, the SSDA hosted 14 Locally Led Destination Development meetings across the South of Scotland, half in-person and half digital. The meetings:Presented the South of Scotland Responsible Tourism Strategy, highlighting which specific points made locally had directly fed into the strategy, and discussed a local approach to work with and benefit from this new…
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External view of the Peebles Hydro, a hotel, set with blue sky and green rolling hills. The hotel will be the venue for the South of Scotland THistle Awards 2024.

Peebles Hydro named as venue for the 2024 South of Scotland Thistle Awards as entries open to local businesses

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 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…
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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…
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