Agriculture, forestry and limited tourism are the mainstays of the local economy, although the ex-mining towns of Kirkconnel and Sanquhar in the north are now home to some diverse light industries. The port of Stranraer is also in the seat, drawing tourists to the ferry service with Larne in Northern Ireland since 1872.

There is a cross-party campaign underway for major investment in the trunk route, the A75, which is the constituency’s main route to Europe, via the ferry link to Larne and then onto the Netherlands. P&O ferries have recognised the significance of the North Channel sea link from Stranraer by introducing their first ferry on this route in 2000 and the promise of a second in 2002.