Last year, the pandemic prevented an industry conference, but Scotland’s Tourism Industry Conference is back, with promises of bigger and bolder than ever before. Featuring a stellar line-up of inspirational and thought-provoking speakers, and a packed programme of relevant and engaging content, the event is designed to support Scotland’s attractions sector and entire tourism industry…
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A luxury log cabin with hot tub in the South of Scotland has won Best Green Holiday Home from the European Holiday Home Awards. Reiver’s Hideaway, located in Melrose, is new this year to the cottage offering from Eildon Melrose Holiday Cottages and Log Cabins, and a second log cabin is already scheduled for construction…
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The South of Scotland Enterprise has launched its first ever engagement tour of the South of Scotland, visiting 24 villages and towns across the region. The first meeting was held today, 8 November, in Dumfries and further meetings are running until March 2022. There are also two virtual events for those unable to attend in-person.…
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BUDGET ANNOUNCEMENT AND NEW CAMPAIGNS FOR THE SOUTH OF SCOTLAND Yesterday was budget day and the chancellor has outlined his plans. It’s encouraging to see higher than expected economic growth, Mr Sunak also announced a 48 per cent rise in skills investment. The hospitality industry is clearly in need of support here. In addition, he…
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The Station House Cookery School has been awarded a prestigious kitemark of quality and accreditation from leading regulatory body, the Independent Cookery School Association (ICSA). The school, based in the picturesque fishing town of Kirkcudbright, in Dumfries and Galloway runs a variety of culinary courses to train both novice cooks and aspiring chefs in a…
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£240K FUNDING BOOST FOR THE SOUTH The SSDA are delighted to be awarded funding from VisitScotland’s Destination and Sector Marketing Fund and the Destination Leadership Recovery fund. We will be implementing the awards until March, working with businesses across the South of Scotland on marketing and product development activities. Local destination groups also recently awarded…
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The latest survey of Scotland’s visitor attractions has revealed that the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to devastate the sector – and it has seen no evidence of a ‘staycation boom’. Less than half of the sector (48.1%) is currently fully open and more than one in ten attractions remain closed. A further 40.9%…
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Literary giants Hilary Mantel and Alexander McCall Smith, crime-writing royalty Ian Rankin, Val McDermid, Christopher Brookmyre and Denise Mina and political leaders Ed Balls, Gordon Brown and Ed Miliband are just a few of the highlights of the 2021 Baillie Gifford Borders Book Festival, this year being held in November at Abbotsford, home of Sir…
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As Wigtown Book Festival gets underway authors have spoken about the urgent need to support and value Scotland’s cultural events. The festival is running a £25,000 Book it and Spread the Word fundraising appeal to help secure its future and ensure it thrives. Let’s hope a massive success this year will secure its future – Val McDermid After…
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Wigtown Book Festival enjoyed a successful first weekend – welcoming visitors back to Scotland’s National Book Town for a wide variety of events. These ranged from talks by household names like Alexander McCall Smith and locally-based writers such as Patrick Laurie, through to pop-up opera from Scottish Opera, to theatre performances and nature walks. At…
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