REGIONS
How is the programme organised?
The Scottish Thistle Awards are funded and delivered by VisitScotland in partnership and collaboration with regional award programmes. They combine five regional awards, with a national final and are supported by an Industry Panel of representatives from across Scotland’s diverse tourism industry.
Our official regional partners include:
We work together with our regional partners to ensure there is consistency and alignment in the categories for entry, judging criteria and process, promotional activity and scheduling of events. Our regional partners are independently responsible for the operational delivery of each part of the programme and an award ceremony for their region. All winners from the regional awards are automatically entered into the National Final.
Details on each region and the local authority areas they include are listed below.
The Regions
Aberdeen City and Shire
Delivered by Aberdeen City and Shire Thistle Awards
- Aberdeenshire
- Aberdeen City
Central and East
Delivered by VisitScotland
- Angus
- Clackmannanshire
- Dundee City
- Edinburgh City
- Falkirk
- Fife
- Perth & Kinross
- Stirling
- East Lothian
- Midlothian
- West Lothian
Highlands and Islands
Delivered by Highlands & Islands Thistle Awards
- Argyll & Bute (excluding G postcode areas)
- Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
- Moray
- Orkney
- Shetland
South of Scotland
Delivered by South of Scotland Destination Alliance and supported by South of Scotland Enterprise
- Dumfries & Galloway
- Scottish Borders
West
Delivered by VisitScotland
- Argyll & Bute (G postcodes only)
- Arran
- Glasgow City
- Renfrewshire
- East Renfrewshire
- Inverclyde
- North Lanarkshire
- South Lanarkshire
- East Ayrshire
- North Ayrshire
- South Ayrshire
- East Dunbartonshire
- West Dunbartonshire
To find out more about how the awards work, click here.
Thank you to our 2026 Sponsors
Delivered by VisitScotland in partnership and collaboration with:
