NC500 listed in popular travel guide’s ‘no-go’ places to avoid in 2025

Councillors reckon the extra cash could help fix up the Highlands, which are groaning under the weight of millions of visitors each year – thanks in no small part to the booming North Coast 500 road trip.

Highland Council kicked off a three-month consultation this week to see what locals think about the idea.

They last asked for views in 2019, pulling in a whopping 6,600 responses from residents, businesses, and visitors.

The Highlands see over six million tourists a year – from day-trippers to cruise passengers – and the numbers are only rising.

This Thursday, the Economy and Infrastructure Committee will look at a report on the proposed Visitor Levy, which lays out how the scheme could work and seeks the green light for a public consultation.

The visitor levy is a top priority in the Council’s ‘Our Future Highland 2022-2027’ programme.

Committee Chair Cllr Ken Gowans said: “Tourism is one of our most important sectors and the levy could be crucial in sustaining, supporting, and developing the services and infrastructure that the sector relies on.”

He thanked everyone who’s chipped in so far and said if approved, the public consultation would run from November 15 to February 7.

Details will be on the Council’s website, with paper copies available on request. The Council is committed to working with partners and stakeholders to tackle service delivery challenges and sees the visitor levy as a way to boost infrastructure and enhance the visitor experience.

On Skye, a tourist hotspot, businesses are adamant that any cash raised from a new tourist tax should stay local.

In May, MSPs backed a plan to introduce a visitor levy across Scotland, letting councils add a charge to overnight stays in hotels, B&Bs, and holiday lets.

A survey by SkyeConnect found that 99% of Skye businesses want all the revenue raised on the island to be spent locally.

Highland Council hasn’t yet revealed the percentage charge on overnight accommodation, but Edinburgh City Council is proposing a 5% year-round levy, capped at seven consecutive nights, with 10% of revenue ring-fenced for destination management.

SkyeConnect is pushing for a similar commitment from Highland Council, especially after core funding was cut from all Highland destination management organisations (DMOs).

The law allows a levy per night on various accommodations, but Skye’s businesses want it extended. They say 88% of campervans and motorhomes not in commercial campsites should be charged, 45% of day-visitors, 61% of cruise ship passengers, 66% of tour groups, and 46% of wild campers.

Back in 2019, Highland Council estimated the levy could rake in up to £10 million a year, which would be ploughed back into improving roads, car parks, and public loos.

With tourist numbers peaking at seven million in 2019, the need for better infrastructure has never been clearer.

TOURISTS planning to travel along the North Coast 500 face having to pay a fee to drive their motorhomes and campervans through the iconic route.

The Highland Council have introduced the new charge as part of a scheme that will help deliver “sustainable and responsible tourism” in the area.

Visitors could have to fork out £40 for a seven-day membership in a bid to help the local authority improve services for tourists and locals alike.

Some of the money will go towards improving services including public toilets and wastewater infrastructure as well as other environmental and ecological protections.

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