TOURISM agency VisitScotland has banned public relations companies from attending the nation's flagship travel trade show in a clampdown on them touting for business for free.

VisitScotland has come under fire after telling PR agencies that they are no longer welcome to attend the annual Expo as accredited guests for free as they would normally do to mingle at what is billed as the only fair which exclusively promotes Scotland.

The two-day event which will open at the SEC in Glasgow next Wednesday, is seen as an opportunity for all companies with a Scottish tourism product to showcase their wares to potential buyers.

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The 2014 expo, held in Aberdeen, saw an estimated £24 million worth of business activity conducted over the course of the event, a figure was expected to rise.

PR agencies, who promote Scotland's attractions have been among many who receive free tickets for the event, which has in past years staged a forum led by VisitScotland about future initiatives to boost inbound tourism.

But VisitScotland officials have confirmed a ban has been put in place following complaints about PR firms touting for business, without paying up to £2000 as an exhibitor.

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And the rejected PR visitors have been told the agency has put in "a formal process" to report all those who are using Expo as an opportunity to get business "without exhibiting in the formal way".

Scott Thornton, owner-director of one rejected company, Glasgow-based Hotel PR, which has been attending for nearly ten years as a visitor, said the decision was a "bombshell" and added: "To say this is disappointing would be a serious understatement".

The Expo is promoted as the premier trade event for "building in-bound tourism to Scotland" and is open to exhibitors from all sectors of the industry and leisure buyers from all corners of the globe.

Mr Thornton said: "The thing that upsets me is that we are all on the same side. We promote Scotland to a very significant extent. At the end of the day, we are all foot soldiers for tourism.

"It is astounding that VisitScotland are not allowing PR people, especially those who specialise in tourism and bringing tourists to Scotland, to go there to find out what is happening within the industry.

He said PR firms like his turn up to find out the latest thinking in the industry and to network and that picking up new business is a mere by-product and not the main reason for being there.

"The penny has not dropped with them that actually to do our job properly and to promote Scotland properly, we need to have an up-to-date awareness of what is happening within the industry," he said.

A VisitScotland spokesman said: “Next week more than 270 tourism businesses from all over Scotland will be in Glasgow to exhibit at VisitScotland Expo - our flagship show for the travel trade. Each of these exhibitors has paid a fee for the opportunity to gain business from tour operators from all over the world.

"Over the years, we have received numerous complaints from stand holders about PR and salespeople trying to sell their services during the event. This is something we work hard to control in order to allow exhibitors to focus on their important face-to-face meetings with tour operators. "PR professionals are permitted to attend Expo if given a pass by a stand holder or client. This is normal policy at any trade show where the public isn’t invited."

Jenifer Stirton, chairman of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations Scotland said it was "disappointing" that PR companies no longer have accredited status at the event.