Businesses unite to develop tourism in  D & G– please join us!

Destination Dumfries & Galloway has secured funding from Dumfries & Galloway Council for 2009/10 with a commitment to further funding on the proviso that the tourism industry also makes a contribution. This makes good business sense and gives us the independence to make and execute our own plans, with guidance from industry operators and input from the public sector.

The big difference is that, for the first time, local industry leaders have joined forces, and committed themselves to a truly imaginative vision for the future of D&G. In order to secure a total budget of over £70 000 via the VisitScotland Growth fund for a campaign to identify Dumfries & Galloway as a unique and desirable tourism destination, we needed to achieve £18,000+ of private sector funds – something we have not been able to deliver in the past because of lack of co-operation between businesses!

Happily, within just 3 days of focussing the efforts of the board on personal phone calls, cold calling and sheer determination, pledges of over £18 000 have been gathered. Your board has been so overwhelmed by the enthusiasm in the responses that we feel we must really apologise to those of you who have felt offended at being left out of this first round of calls!!!! We  know that there are many major businesses in the region that we have not yet been able to contact; it has not been for lack of recognition, simply lack of time and resources!

In the last e-bulletin, we appealed for pledges towards this Growth Fund Application and there were a number of responses, particularly from small businesses. DD&G is not just a one campaign wonder, and anyone wishing to support the enterprise by pledging funds will be welcomed as a founder supporter; money raised by industry in this way can attract up to 4 times the pledged amount in matched funding from public agencies.
By supporting the region in this way you will be helping to create a legacy that will define the region for years to come, create jobs and boost the local economy – we will all benefit….. but we can’t do it without you!
Please click here to register your support.

The businesses listed in the right hand column clearly see this as an investment rather than a donation! It is hugely important that we can demonstrate to public agencies that businesses in Dumfries and Galloway have the vision to invest in their own future for the long term good of the region.

To give some idea as to the support the businesses in the right hand column have given.

• Small businesses have pledged between £25 and £100.
• Medium sized businesses have pledged between £250 and £500.
• Large businesses have pledged between £500 and £2000.

You can download the form to register your business 'creative package' for the website here.