Hospitality outfits savour NC500 effect Tourism: Edinburgh-Beijing route also credited for helping

The continuing lure of the North Coast 500 (NC500) road trip route and an influx of visitors from China has boosted business for tourist accommodation providers in the Highlands, according to a number of operators.

Jurys Inn Inverness cited the popularity of the NC500, which starts and finishes in the Highland capital, as one of the main factors behind what it described as a “huge spike in guest numbers,” including a 36% increase in travellers from overseas since 2016.

Established four years ago, the route around the north Highland coastline has become one of the most famous road trips in the world, alongside the renowned Route 66 in the US and Australia’s Great Ocean Road.

Niall O’Shaughnessy, general manager of the 118room Jurys Inn Inverness, said: “It’s fantastic that we have visitors coming from all continents to experience the best of the Scottish Highlands.

“In the past two years especially, our visitor numbers from the likes of the US and Canada, Australia and Asia have significantly.

“We can’t say this is entirely due to the North Coast 500 but it has

“Fantastic that we have visitors coming from all continents”

increased definitely had effect.”

Elsewhere in the city, luxury holiday apartment business Ardconnel Court, said it had seen a 75% increase in Chinese group bookings, compared with last summer, following a positive the introduction of direct flights between Beijing and Edinburgh in June.

Willie Cameron, of Cobbs Group, which runs four hotels round Loch Ness, said they had also seen an “upsurge” in visitors from China.

Chris Taylor, regional leadership director at VisitScotland, said: “There’s no denying that the Highlands’ stunning scenery, rich history and fascinating stories – from the Loch Ness Monster to Harry Potter – have helped grow the region’s appeal among Chinese visitors.

“VisitScotland continues to work with airlines to improve connectivity and we’re delighted that businesses are already seeing the benefits of increased air routes to Scotland, including the first-ever direct air service between Edinburgh and China.

“China remains an important international market and we work closely with industry partners, local destination marketing and Chinese travel trade organisations to promote the diverse tourism experience in the Highlands and develop the region as a year-round destination.” almost £3 billion from the turnover of the sector as a whole, according to the figures, compiled with Thomson Reuters.

The Law Society has also forecast that by 2025 there could be 4,000 to 5,000 fewer people employed in the sector if the UK agrees a Canada-style free trade deal with the EU.

This could rise to 10,000 if the UK leaves the EU under WTO rules, it warned.

But Law Society president Christina Blacklaws said the group was “standing on thin ice” with its forecasts because global markets were volatile, and there was little agreement in the Brexit negotiations so far.

“Forecasts on thin ice because global markets are volatile”

ROUTE: The North Coast 500 follows the main roads along the coastal edges of the North Highlands and is proving to be a huge attraction