Visit Scotland | Alba
Article published 14/06/2022

Curiosity Starts Here marketing campaign

A specially designed roving robot called TA-M has been exploring the Scottish Borders and Dumfries & Galloway as part of a mission to encourage more holidaymakers to visit the beautiful, but relatively unknown, South of Scotland.

The roving robot is spearheading a new Curiosity Starts Here marketing campaign launched by the South of Scotland Destination Alliance (SSDA) to showcase the attractions of the South of Scotland.

From visiting the beach at Coldingham Bay in Berwickshire to being fitted for some fetching knitwear at Johnston’s of Elgin in Hawick and visiting Bruce’s Stone at Loch Trool, TA-M (The South of Scotland Adventure-Module) has been roving around the South of Scotland seeking out interesting landmarks, locals and experiences.

Inspired by NASA’s robot geologists and their missions to Mars, TA-M has been created to uncover everything the region, which stretches across the foot of Scotland, has to offer.

 

Roving Robots in the Scottish Borders

 

Meet TA-M the robot

The Curiosity Starts Here campaign featuring TA-M will run across out-of-home adverts, radio slots and social media.

A launch video featuring TA-M has been created revealing landmarks and attractions, from vast, sandy beaches to stunning star-lit skies and distilleries and encounters with locals across the South of Scotland.

TA-M features robotic arms that can lift and grip objects, "expressive eyebrows", all-terrain wheels, dilating iris eyes with LED lights, 3D printed body parts and solar panels to recharge in the sun.

The campaign video

The South of Scotland is a beautiful part of the country offering a diverse range of experiences for visitors. With its stunning coastline, unspoiled landscape, fantastic food and drink and exciting festivals and events, this unique campaign will help open up the region to new audiences.

This campaign will provide a boost to local tourism businesses and support the recovery of this vital part of Scotland’s economy.

Annique Armstrong, VisitScotland’s interim Regional Director

The South of Scotland is arguably one of the most unspoilt and stunningly beautiful parts of the UK. There’s so much to see, do and explore in the region – it’s one of the few parts of the country you can still truly discover.

The area offers stunning beaches and coastline, delicious local food and drink, fascinating history and heritage, adventurous activities and a wealth of nature and wildlife.

As part of our new "Curiosity Starts Here" campaign, TA-M is designed to inspire countless future visitors to experience all our region has to offer. You might say, "One small step for TA-M, many giant adventures for mankind!"

Ross McAuley, Chief Executive of the South of Scotland Destination Alliance

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