Colin Smyth MSP
South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth has welcomed news that Dumfries and Galloway Council have agreed new major events and festival strategy which will see seven significant events receive additional funding to improve and expand.
The South of Scotland MSP and former Events Champion of Dumfries and Galloway Council praised the new strategy and highlighted the fact the council’s support for major events and festivals was now being recognised across Scotland as an example of best practice.
The new plan will offer three competitive funding streams to support events across the region depending on their scale and status, including seven signature events which will receive substance funding including, The Wigtown Book Festival, the Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival, Spring Fling, the Big Burns Supper, the Scottish Rally, the Tour of Britain and world championship ice hockey.
Welcoming the news Colin Smyth MSP said: “The council deserve praise for continuing their excellent support for events and festivals across Dumfries and Galloway. Tourism is crucial to our local economy and by supporting events and festivals, it not only encourages new visitors to our region, but very often they make return visits.”
“Dumfries and Galloway has built a great reputation for providing some of the best events and festivals in the whole country, and that is in no small part thanks to the support they receive from the council. I know from speaking to people involved in the industry and government that the unique events and festivals strategy the council has is seen as an example of best practise that other areas are keen to follow”.
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