Category: SSDA

SSDA launches inclusive ‘Basic’ membership for all

  Following the South of Scotland’s remarkable successes in 2023, the SSDA is excited to announce an evolution in its membership proposition for 2024. The SSDA is keen to become the largest, most inclusive, energetic and impactful destination management and marketing organisation in Scotland.  We want our consumer-facing destination brand, ‘Scotland Starts Here’ to be…
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Town Where Auld Lang Syne Was Written Issues Rallying Cry To Be Recognised As The Bard’s True Home

Campaigners in Dumfries call for the town to be recognised as the place where Robert Burns lived, loved, worked and died As revellers link arms around the world to welcome 2024 with a rendition of Auld Lang Syne, a new action group in the South of Scotland has launched a campaign to celebrate Dumfriesshire’s unparalleled…
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Galloway & Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere named on Rough Guides ‘Best Destinations’ for 2024

The Galloway & Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere has achieved its second international travel accolade in as many months as Scotland’s UNESCO Trail is named on Rough Guides’ much anticipated list of the ’24 best destinations to visit in 2024’. Globally recognised as world class for people and nature, the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere…
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Five big 2023 wins for destination South of Scotland!

As we look back on 2023 there is much to celebrate, with five fantastic wins for the South of Scotland as a leading tourism destination.   Thistle Awards records smashed: For the first time ever, the South of Scotland won more national Thistle Awards than any other region.  In total we took home six prestigious…
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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…
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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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Linked Travel Arrangments Webinar

Find out more about this in our essential webinar, featuring insights from industry experts Matt Gatenby, Senior Partner at Travlaw, Erika Miller, Package Travel Lead and Andrew Powell, Package Travel Advisor from the UK Government’s Department for Business & Trade.  Current Regulations Decoded: Explore how these regulations could directly affect your business operations. From booking…
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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…
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Three’s a charm: SSDA appoints new Board Members

Joining the South of Scotland Destination Alliance Board are (L to R) Esther Tacke, Sian Downes and Keith Mundell. They join as tourism leaders from the activity, events and visitor attraction sectors and and they will be helping promote sustainable tourism and thriving communities in Dumfries & Galloway and the Scottish Borders Members of the…
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A Year-Round Destination Webinar

The South of Scotland is a year-round destination. Whether visitors are considering winter, spring, summer or autumn for their trip, they will find a warm welcome as well as endless experiences and adventures. Hear the latest on the new Scotland Starts Here seasonality campaign and find out how the SSDA is representing your business input…
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