SCOTLAND’S answer to Route 66 has attracted thousands of tourists since it was launched last year.
Now the group behind the North Coast 500 is looking at introducing a stamped passport initiative to ease congestion similar to that operated on Spain’s famous Camino de Santiago.
Drivers, bikers, cyclists and walkers on the 516-mile route would collect stamps for their passport from businesses, such as cafes, shops and accommodation operators to prove they have completed the journey, or part of it.
Such a scheme used on the Camino de Santiago has generated millions of euros for rural areas in particular.
Nearly every bar, hostel or shop along the Camino has its own stamp – which draws trade in.
A NC500 roadshow was staged by VisitScotland and the North Highland Initiative in Durness, Sutherland, last week.
The village is one of the areas that has suffered congestion problems as one fifth of the route, which starts in Inverness and goes in a loop up the west coast via Ullapool and along the north coast, is single track.
Councillor Hugh Morrison, who runs the Smoo Hotel in Durness – and represents North, West and Central Sutherland – raised the idea of the “passport” stamp scheme with organisers.
He said: “They said they had already thought about it and were making inroads into it. “It would be especially good for some of the places being by-passed by the NC500 - and off the main route - and spread the prosperity and ease the congestion on the real pressure points. It has the potential to generate more money for the area. There is a lot of mileage in it.”
Research earlier this year revealed the “absolutely incredible” impact of the route on tourism and business in the Highlands.
Interviews with more than 800 users of the route found that 87 per cent said they were “very satisfied” with the experience and 92 per cent would recommend the NC500 to others.
The study also revealed that two-thirds of those who made the trip spent five days or more travelling along the route.
Dunrobin Castle in Golspie reported this year it had “smashed” its two decade-old record for visitors, and attributed the rise to the NC500.
The NC500 was officially launched in March last year in an effort to develop sustainable economic growth across the north Highlands. It has been highlighted on TV shows such as Top Gear and CNN.
Mr Morrison said a workshop involving Highland Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, NC500, VisitScotland and Police Scotland, was trying to find solutions to the congestion issue.
He said: “Driver behaviour is one of the things that is constantly raised. You can’t change the single track roads overnight - and The frustration of locals over cars that don’t allow people to pass is real.”
“NC500 is putting more information all the time on to its website. The police do not have the resources to patrol regularly - at the moment there are only two officers between Ullapool and Thurso.
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