POLITICAL LEADERS HAVE moved to provide their backing for the introduction of the new North East 250 Tourist Route.
Revealed on Wednesday, it is hoped that the new route will provide a major boost to tourism for communities in Moray and Aberdeenshire.
Moray’s MP Douglas Ross was one of the first to welcome the initiative – and the fact that it had received financial backing already from several local businesses who recognise the value of the project to the key Tourism industry throughout the north east.
Mr Ross said: “I very much welcome the efforts made by Guy Macpherson-Grant to develop this route, which follows on from the highly successful North Coast 500.
“It could boost tourism potential here as it showcases the region to visitors as well as offering an opportunity for local people to discover what we have on our doorstep.
“I’m delighted to see that it has already received financial backing from local businesses and the potential benefits could be enormous. I’m looking forward to meeting with organisers in the future to hear more about the route and the opportunities it could provide businesses and communities as visitors weave their way through different parts of Moray.”
His Conservative colleague Jamie Halcro Johnston MSP, who represents Moray as part of the Highlands and Islands constituency at Holyrood, added his welcome for the formation of the new route, which was unveiled at the Moray Speyside Tourism Conference in Elgin.
He said: “The North East 250 is a welcome addition to our local tourist offering in Moray, the west Highlands and the north-east. It will give visitors the opportunity to visit some of our finest scenery and attractions from the coast to the mountains.
“These types of initiatives have a real potential to improve the interconnectivity of the region’s tourist attractions. I hope that businesses around the route will get involved.”
He was joined by another regional MSP, Edward Mountain, who added: “I give my support to the North East 250, which builds upon the success of the North Coast 500 in promoting tourism to our region. I wish it every success in the future.”
Public feedback from the announcement this week has not been universally in favour, however, several believing that the route may bring as many problems for small communities.