Edinburgh (TAN): More than 100 tourism businesses from the Scottish Borders and Dumfries & Galloway recently attended a special event at the Scottish Parliament to celebrate tourism in southern Scotland.
Scotland’s national tourism organisation VisitScotland launched the See South Scotland campaign in October last year to promote the south of Scotland as a tourism destination to key UK and European markets.
“Bringing Dumfries & Galloway and the Scottish Borders together as one for the first time, #SeeSouthScotland focuses specifically on the region’s world-class coastal and forest activity, dark skies, walking, cycling and the Galloway & Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere,” VisitScotland said in a statement.
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Through the development of online content, foreign press trips, partnerships and digital marketing campaigns, VisitScotland’s campaign is targeting potential leisure visitors from domestic and international markets, encouraging them to visit the south of Scotland.
As part of the campaign, direct mail packs have been sent to around 25,000 households in the north of England and London featuring inspiring spring getaway ideas to southern Scotland.
Cabinet secretary for tourism and culture Fiona Hyslop said: “This South of Scotland event was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the unique stories and attractions that can be found in the region.
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“The south of Scotland has a lot to offer both domestic and international tourists which is why the Scottish government is working to support the region and help it grow and attract even more visitors by funding projects that are promoting sustainable tourism and adventure tourism as well as providing GBP 500,000 of additional funding to VisitScotland for the #SeeSouthScotland campaign.”
“It was fantastic to see so many tourism businesses from the Scottish Borders and Dumfries & Galloway in attendance at the event… We are particularly delighted to be able to showcase the fantastic range of product from across the region who are an excellent example of the diversity and quality available to visitors across the length and breadth of the South of Scotland,” VisitScotland regional leadership director Paula Ward said.
Joan McAlpine, member of Scottish Parliament for south of Scotland, said: “From stunning scenery, outdoor pursuits, incredible heritage and marvellous food and drink, the region has so many attractions.”
Rachael Hamilton, another member of Scottish Parliament for south of Scotland, said: “Rural tourism in Borders towns and villages creates jobs and benefits the wider economy and we are lucky to have a wide and varied tourism offering and plenty of reasons for tourists to visit. Famously Hawick showcases the best of cashmere and knitwear to tweed, gin and whisky production, Berwickshire boasts breathtaking coastal walks, agri-tourism ventures like Fluffy Moos offer corporate team building. So too have Thirlestane Castle developed a fantastic accommodation offering alongside its traditional visitor experience and Newcastleton havs the world class 7-stanes mountain biking trail.”
