Leading travel writer and broadcaster Simon Calder tells South of Scotland Destination Alliance conference that the region is perfectly placed to attract city dwellers who crave escapes in rural areas. With the pandemic creating a ‘perfect storm’ of staycations, a slow tourism trend and city dwellers looking for rural areas to escape to, the South…
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In April 2020, Loch Ken Trust established the Loch Ken Ranger Service as one of the first ever community-led ranger services in Scotland. Thanks to funding from the Scottish Government, we are now pleased to launch our first education and community events programme. The funding will enable the Loch Ken Ranger Service to hold 4…
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A collaboration between the South of Scotland Destination Alliance (SSDA) and Traveltech for Scotland (TTS) has been launched to support tourism and hospitality across the region through better connected and more innovative use of digital technology. The strategic partnership between SSDA, a destination management and marketing organisation, and TTS is designed to help tourism and…
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The South of Scotland Destination Alliance (SSDA) has formed a strategic partnership with industry leadership organisation, Scotland Food & Drink, to put food and drink producers from across the region in the spotlight to boost tourism and aid the region’s recovery from the global pandemic. The strategic partnership will launch a series of collaborative initiatives…
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Whilst it certainly still feels very much like winter, the shoots of spring are showing. We have the announcement from the first minister on COVID restrictions ending on 21st March. We also have over 100 attendees for our conference already confirmed. After two years of disruption, this is a great chance for the tourism and…
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As he bids to become world champion again, mountain biker Reece Wilson is flying the flag for the South of Scotland as a must-visit destination for cycling and outdoors adventures With cycling and staycations continuing to rise in popularity in the wake of the global pandemic, one of the world’s leading mountain bikers, Reece Wilson,…
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The Enduro World Series mountain bike race and festival is set to return to the Scottish Borders from the 2nd – 5th June this year. The event, which brought 15,000 visitors to Innerleithen in October 2021, will bring international elite athletes, teams, top cycling brands and spectators to the town for an even bigger weekend…
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The South of Scotland Destination Alliance’s first conference will look at how the sector can work together to recover from the pandemic and elevate the region into a leading destination The South of Scotland Destination Alliance (SSDA) is bringing together the local tourism industry for its inaugural annual conference on Tuesday the 15th of March…
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Holidaymakers, from staycationers to international tourists, are missing out on a wealth of hidden gems across the South of Scotland, including its stunning beaches and coastline, high-quality local food and drink, adventurous activities and nature and wildlife, new research has revealed. A recent survey of more than 3,400 people across the UK, outside the Scottish…
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South of Scotland Enterprise and partners Scottish Borders Council, Dumfries & Galloway Council, VisitScotland, SSDA and Sustrans are exploring the development of a Coast-to-Coast Cycle Route, which will run from Portpatrick to Eyemouth. Encouraging active travel If developed this challenge route, suitable for experienced cyclists, will stimulate demand for recovery post Covid-19 and aligns with…
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