Author: Vanessa Wegstein

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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New Campaign Highlights How The South Of Scotland Dazzles In The Darker Months

The latest Scotland Starts Here campaign features a must-do winter ‘Bucket List’ showcasing the best of the region in the chilly season, including starry picnics and coo spotting.  A new winter ‘Bucket List’ has been created by the South of Scotland Destination Alliance (SSDA) as part of its ‘Scotland Starts Here’ promotional campaign to highlight…
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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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Scotland’s first UNESCO Biosphere named on National Geographic ‘Cool List’ for 2024

The Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere, Scotland’s first UNESCO Biosphere, is celebrating the news that National Geographic Traveller (UK) has named it as the only Scottish destination in the prestigious global Cool List for 2024. The “editors’ selection of global destinations set to make the news over the next 12 months” identifies the top places…
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Festivals and Events Tourism to the Region Receives Major Council Boost

Dumfries and Galloway Council has announced that it is to lead the search for new Signature Events for the region. The Advancement initiative, to identify the growth events in Dumfries and Galloway that have the potential to grow sustainably and profile our region internationally, is a cornerstone of the Council’s Events Strategy 2023-2027. The Advancement…
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Interface Opportunities for SSDA Members

Based regionally throughout Scotland, Interface works with businesses of all sizes, in all sectors, to match them to Scotland’s world-leading academic expertise to help them grow. With connections into all Scottish universities, research institutes and colleges, Interface has established and efficient processes that will save time and money in finding and accessing academic expertise, research,…
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New South of Scotland Cycling Infrastructure Fund opens

A new £300,000 South of Scotland Cycling Infrastructure Fund has been created to support the region’s aim of becoming one of the leading cycling destinations in the world. The Fund offers capital grants of £3,000 to £25,000 to support tourism businesses, social enterprises and community groups who own visitor facing assets to invest in cycling…
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Southern pride: team effort from across the region to make first South of Scotland Thistle Awards a glittering success

  Local suppliers pulling out all the stops to honour and celebrate their area’s tourism and hospitality stars The South of Scotland’s first ever dedicated regional Thistle Awards celebrating the best in tourism and hospitality are only days away and businesses from across the region are going the extra mile to ensure the awards event…
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South of Scotland progress to become world leading cycling destination celebrated

The South of Scotland’s aim of becoming one of the leading cycling destinations in the world is on track, following a hugely successful first year of the Cycling Partnership Strategy. The 10-year plan was launched 12 months ago, and a review of the last year has highlighted a significant number of achievements by partners behind…
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