Tourists and local businesses benefit from A9 dualling programme

The tourism app has been produced as part of the Scottish Government’s innovative Civ Tech Challenge which looks to new technology businesses to solve technological challenges.
 
The Highland Discovery app has been developed to promote the less visited rural heartlands of Scotland. The app, which will initially be trialled with the public in Beta mode before being rolled out next year, will help tourists navigate the many visitor attractions in and around the A9 corridor. The app focusses on small, community facilities and businesses and also includes an in-car audio channel offering Scottish stories and songs supported by Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland (TRACS), Greentrax Recordings and local school children.
 
Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work, Keith Brown said:
 
“The A9 Dualling programme is about more than building a road, important and challenging as that is. We also want to take the opportunity to improve the visitor experience for people travelling along the route and uncover the “hidden gems” local to the corridor.
 
“The tourism app will help anyone visiting the area identify local places of interest and the in-car audio channels will provide an interesting glimpse into the local culture of Scotland with stories and music.
 
“This Beta launch will allow tourists and local communities to trial the app and provide feedback before a full launch next year. Local input will be vital to its success and I would encourage communities and businesses to download the app and let us have your views.
 
“At the same time we are getting on with the job of dualling this important route linking the central belt with the Highlands and Islands. The section between Kincraig and Dalraddy will have all remaining traffic restrictions lifted shortly and next year we will start dualling the next section between Luncarty and Pass of Birnam.
 
“We are also currently procuring an advanced works contract to enable works such as site clearance and demolition to take place before construction starts on any section and we are also progressing the design work for the other sections to be dualled and remain on target to finish the job by 2025.”