And, according to Scottish Borders Council chief executive David Hume, the region cannot afford to miss out on the tourism dividends from The Year of Homecoming, marking the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns.

"With the restructuring of the Scottish Enterprise network and VisitScotland, there may be a diminution of the tourist profile of the Borders," he admitted at last week's full council meeting. "This is an ideal chance to promote our region."

Members heard that £1.5million has been allocated to the Borders by the Scottish Government to assist in setting up special new events and enhancing others.

And on Thursday, the council agreed to spend £20,000 from unspent money in its economic development budget to engage a part-time consultant to co-ordinate the effort.

At a national level, five signature events have been announced in a bid to get people of Scots descent from across the globe to return in 2009.

The programme kicks off in January with Burns Night celebrations allied to the Celtic Connections music festival in Glasgow and continues with a whisky extravaganza in May, a celebration of golf at the Open Championship in July, a major gathering of the clans in Edinburgh in the same month and a grand finale, at venues to be confirmed, on St Andrew's Day (November 30).

Locally, several bids for the £1million earmarked for themed events were submitted by last month's deadline, including a gathering of the Scott clan at Abbotsford and Bowhill, and a three-week exhibition centred around Melrose Sevens and entitled Seven Degrees of Separation. Bidders will find out whether they have been successful or not next month.

Melrose RFC foresees the exhibition incorporating reflections from players, ex-players and supporters from around the world on their own personal contribution to a tournament which, this year, celebrates its 125th anniversary.

"At its core is a multi-layered visual and aural experience that portrays a 'living' family tree of sevens," according to the club's funding application.