AN INDEPENDENT study led by the University of Aberdeen’s SPOT (Social and Innovative Platform on Cultural Tourism) Team has highlighted that the Great Tapestry of Scotland visitor centre in Galashiels has improved public perception of the town.
The research also found that the centre was the key reason that 60 per cent of holidaymakers interviewed visited the area.
Surveying over 460 visitors to the centre between April and September 2022, the SPOT Team discovered that visitor satisfaction was overwhelmingly positive, with 74.5 per cent of visitors stating that their visit to the Great Tapestry of Scotland made them feel more positive towards Galashiels.
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And for 58.2 per cent of those visiting the area on holiday, the purpose of their visit to the area on the day of the survey was to visit The Great Tapestry of Scotland.
Welcoming the findings, Sandy Maxwell-Forbes, Centre Director at The Great Tapestry of Scotland said: “We are thrilled to see that these results are overwhelmingly positive, backing up the fantastic reviews we are getting from visitors, in the media, online and in social media.
"Our team has navigated through a global pandemic, a nation-wide hospitality recruitment shortage and the ongoing cost of living crisis to create one of the nation’s top-rated visitor experiences right here in Galashiels, the heartland of the Scottish Borders.
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“As the home of the people’s story of Scotland, it is important to us that our visitors help to inform our ongoing story, so we’re also delighted that the report contains some really useful constructive feedback which will help us to continually improve build on success.”
Councillor Euan Jardine, Leader of Scottish Borders Council added: “It is very gratifying that following the significant investment made into developing the Great Tapestry of Scotland visitor centre in Galashiels we have such strong evidence of it drawing in tourists to the Scottish Borders, and generating significant numbers of return visitors.
“Supporting the regeneration of Galashiels town centre was a key driver for bringing the Great Tapestry of Scotland to the town and it has helped to bring in many millions of pounds of investment from a whole range of partners.
"That investment not only helped us develop the visitor centre but also support community-led regeneration projects, particularly through Energise Galashiels Trust.”
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