Council airshow secures win at Scottish Thistle Awards regional final
The International Ayr Show - Festival of Flight has won the award for "Best Community Tourism & Events Initiative" at the West of Scotland Regional Final of the Scottish Thistle Awards.
The South Ayrshire Council run airshow received the prestigious award at a ceremony which took place in Glasgow on Thursday 25 September.
The Scottish Thistle Awards, organised by Visit Scotland, have recognised the very best of the Scottish tourism, hospitality, and events industry for over 30 years. The awards honour individuals, businesses and partnerships for their innovation, excellence, and success.
In 2024, the airshow, which is funded and organised by the council, attracted over 250,000 visitors to Ayr shorefront, making it the largest free public event in Scotland. 27 aerial displays entertained the crowd over two days, and the bustling Festival Village provided a fantastic offer of trade and catering stalls.
The festival celebrates Scotland's rich aviation history, while shining a light on the thriving aerospace industry within South Ayrshire and promoting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) career options to young people.
The International Ayr Show - Festival of Flight will now go forward to the 2025 Scottish Thistle Awards National Final in Glasgow this November.
South Ayrshire Council's Assistant Director - Communities, George Hunter, said: "It's an honour for South Ayrshire Council to have been recognised at the regional final of the Thistle Awards and I'm delighted that we have the chance to showcase our event at the national final.
"The team behind the airshow has worked tirelessly to make this the biggest free event in Scotland and to put South Ayrshire on the map, so it's fantastic to see their dedication praised at such a prestigious awards ceremony."
Barbara Smith, Chair of the Scottish Thistle Awards Industry Panel, said: "Huge congratulations to South Ayrshire Council and its International Ayr Show - Festival of Flight for their Best Community Tourism & Events Initiative win at the Scottish Thistle Awards West final. It is inspiring to see an event so important to the local area and beyond gain well-deserved recognition for the hard work they do. It all contributes to boosting our visitor economy and making Scotland such a must-visit, must-return destination.
"Scottish Thistle Award winners join a prestigious roll of honour, earning commendation as one of the best in the country. This helps ensure that the industry, and the individuals who work in it, are recognised for the positive impact they bring to the country and our communities.
"I wish the council and Festival of Flight team the best of luck for the national final in November."
Photo credit: Connor Mollinson/VisitScotland
