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…
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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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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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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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BRAND NEW SOUTH WEST COASTAL 300 MAPS NOW AVAILABLE

The SSDA is delighted to announce that the brand new South West Coastal 300 Route Map is now available to visitors across the region and beyond. Working to honour our commitment to continue the excellent work of Visit South West Scotland to grow this valuable tourism offering, the SSDA has redesigned the map with the…
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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…
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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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