New ‘Twinned with Tourism’ community promise campaign welcomed by Team South of Scotland
The new ‘South of Scotland Twinned with Tourism’ Community Promise launched today (24 July) by the South of Scotland Destination Alliance (SSDA) is being warmly welcomed by Team South of Scotland.
The promotional film and downloadable ‘South of Scotland - Twinned with Tourism’ materials have been created to help reassure local communities that tourism businesses are reopening safely and respectfully; and that communities in turn, can help businesses welcome visitors back.
It also encourages visitors to come to the area and know they will be safe and very welcome.
Professor Russel Griggs OBE, Chair of South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE) said: “We have always said that we are here to do great things in the South, for the South and with the South and this is a great example of this. Following our announcement of funding for the SSDA, we have been delighted to work with them on this first inspirational project at such a crucial time for our region. Tourism, is of course, essential to our economy whilst at the same time, we acknowledge that there may be some nervousness about reopening. We have listened to this, and as such, have been delighted to support this project in order to promote how tourism connects everyone – residents, businesses and visitors. This new Communities Promise ‘Twinned with Tourism’ is about reassuring people there is a partnership between towns, their businesses, communities and visitors. We hope that it can support communities, business and visitors to feel safe and allow everyone to enjoy our beautiful region once more.”
Councillor Rob Davidson, Depute Leader of Dumfries and Galloway Council said: “As we move through the route map out of the COVID-19 crisis, at the heart of this is working with communities in order to inform an appropriate approach, sympathetic to the views of local people. There are naturally concerns about visitors returning and that’s why it is important that we do all we can to provide communities, businesses and visitors with that reassurance that everyone is committed to taking a responsible approach to re-opening. We welcome this campaign for the South of Scotland and hope it helps support local communities, businesses and visitors into the future."
Councillor Mark Rowley, Scottish Borders Council’s Executive Member for Business and Economic Development added: “This is a really exciting campaign for our area at a crucial time where we want potential visitors to know that they are welcome here in the South of Scotland. Given the rural nature of our area, visitors can be reassured that they are safe and that we are doing all we can to encourage people to come to the South – to enjoy our beautiful surroundings, open spaces and visitor attractions. It has been important to engage with communities to develop this project to promote this message in the right way and we hope the new video, guidance and materials supports our communities, businesses and visitors to access the guidance they need and helps deliver the message that we are open, we are safe and that we have lots to offer.”
SSDA are urging all local businesses and community groups to share the film from www.ssdalliance.com/twinnedwithtourism/ amongst their own networks, download their own ‘Twinned with Tourism’ icon for use on social media and show visitors that the South of Scotland is delighted to welcome them back.
The SSDA press release is available from www.ssdalliance.com/south-of-scotland-promise-twinned-with-tourism/
Editors Notes
SOSE has committed just over £2.7m over five years to support the new tourism, marketing and destination development programme to be delivered by a new industry-led leadership body called South of Scotland Destination Alliance (SSDA).