£2.7m boost for tourism industry welcomed in Borders

That investment, over five years, will be managed by the South of Scotland Destination Alliance, a new industry-led organisation set up to help revive the tourism industry here after almost four months’ inactivity.

It’s especially welcome coming so soon after Scottish Government first minister Nicola Sturgeon’s refusal to rule out quarantine for visitors from elsewhere in the UK added to the challenges facing hoteliers and others as they look to resume trading in the middle of this month.

The new group brings together the Scottish Borders Tourism Partnership and Visit South West Scotland.

Enterprise agency chairman Russel Griggs said: “This is a landmark investment and one which confirms our commitment to being ambitious and bold for our region.

“As well as helping the Covid recovery, we are looking ahead to get us to a place where we will be attracting more people than ever to visit, stay and spend in the south of Scotland and in a manner which is sustainable and amplifies the many wide-reaching benefits tourism gives rise to.

“We must focus on an optimistic future and one which makes our economy stronger than ever, building on the fantastic community spirit and commitment that we all have for our beautiful area and we will work closely with the alliance to deliver this.”

Scottish Borders Tourism Partnership chairman Will Haegeland said: “Tourism, now more than ever, is critically important to the whole economy in the south of Scotland.

“While we could never have anticipated the unprecedented challenge that Covid-19 has brought to our industry, our new alliance with Visit South West Scotland is a significant step forward for the region.

“Our alliance brings optimism, passion and ambition, so, with the strong support of South of Scotland Enterprise, we are now ready to start delivering a concrete plan that will form an important part of our recovery.

“We’re looking forward to making that happen and putting the south of Scotland firmly on the must-visit tourism map.”

Mid Berwickshire councillor Mark Rowley, Scottish Borders Council’s executive member for business and economic development, agrees, saying: “This is vital investment at a critical time for the tourism industry right across the south of Scotland.

“Businesses are reopening or making plans for restarting in the near future and will need support to get back on their feet.

“This funding, and the programme it will deliver under the new South of Scotland Destination Alliance, will be critical to the recovery of our tourism sector, which in turn is so important to the local economy of the Borders and wider south of Scotland.”

VisitScotland chief executive Malcolm Roughead added: “This major funding announcement is fantastic news for tourism in the south of Scotland, helping to support and deliver long-term social and economic benefits to communities in the Borders and Dumfries and Galloway.”

“The funding announcement also represents a major step forward for the new South of Scotland Destination Alliance, which will bring together tourism businesses across the south of Scotland to work together to ensure the best possible outcome for the whole of the visitor economy.

“Tourism is more than a holiday experience – it sustains communities socially and economically and contributes to the health and wellbeing of the population,

“We look forward to working closely with the South of Scotland Destination Alliance going forward to support the recovery of tourism across the region, helping the industry become an economic and social powerhouse again.”

Holyrood rural economy secretary Fergus Ewing has also welcomed the initiative, saying: “Tourism is one of Scotland’s greatest assets, and we have been clear that we want to get the sector operating as soon as it is safe to do so.

“Our extensive package of support for business – which includes the £30m creative, tourism and hospitality enterprises hardship fund, the £120m pivotal enterprises resilience fund and 100% rates relief for the year – is already helping a wide range of tourism businesses across Scotland.

“This £2.7m investment will build on that, helping to position tourism in the south for sustainable future growth.

“I wish the South of Scotland Destination Alliance every possible success in its efforts to boost the region’s tourism industry at such a critical time.”