HOT SPRINGS and volcanoes meet lochs and Medieval abbeys, as the South of Scotland Destination Alliance (SSDA) welcomes Visit Iceland to their third annual conference later this month.
As well as international sessions from Visit Iceland and Vienna Tourist Board and an address by Scotland’s Tourism Minister Richard Lochhead, the SSDA Annual Conference in Dumfries on 20 March will see the official launch of the ambitious new 10-year Responsible Tourism Strategy for the South of Scotland.
David Hope-Jones, Chief Executive of the South of Scotland Destination Alliance, said: “We very much look forward to welcoming Visit Iceland to the South of Scotland, where they’ll share their insights on developing a year-round destination. While we may not have hot springs and glaciers, there is still plenty we can learn from one another!
“There’s huge value in collaboration and knowledge exchange with other countries about destination marketing: forging these relationships and gaining valuable insights will help us to support our region’s local businesses. We are constantly seeking out creative ideas and fresh thinking, whether that be locally, nationally, or internationally, and Visit Iceland’s innovation with brilliant campaigns like OutHorse Your Email really captured our attention. We hope this year’s outward and forward-looking conference will inspire and engage everyone attending, whether that is as a speaker or guest.”
The new South of Scotland Responsible Tourism Strategy has been developed by the SSDA in partnership with South of Scotland Enterprise, Scottish Borders Council, Dumfries & Galloway Council and VisitScotland, with input from hundreds of regional tourism and hospitality businesses.
The SSDA’s third annual conference will be held at The Crichton’s Easterbrook Hall in Dumfries on 20 March 2024. Find out more and book tickets on the SSDA’s website.
