This action plan supercedes the previous Scottish Borders Tourism Strategy which expired in 2005, coinciding with the merger between VisitScotland and the Area Tourist Boards.

An Area Tourism Partnership was formed whose remit was to produce a Local Action Plan detailing how tourism in the Borders would be progressed until 2015. The Moffat Centre (part of Glasgow Caledonian University) was commissioned to carry out an extensive consultation exercise and to produce the new Strategy & Action Plan which is entitled "Connect Thinking". This plan is aligned to the national Tourism Framework for Change with specific actions and targets which will be monitored on a regular basis and will contribute towards the ambition to grow tourism in Scotland by 50% by 2015.

The vision is to make the Scottish Borders a must visit, must return, year round, sustainable tourism destination.

“….the Borders deserve it. This often ignored, often underrated part of Scotland is at the heart of our history. It feeds the imagination. It is an incomparable place to live. Pretty good to visit too. Try it, if you haven‘t already felt its magic.”

Massie, A (2006) Borders deserves a big build up. – Sunday Times 19.03.06 page 10

Our Scottish Borders, Your Inspiration