Travel companies in Scotland should be provided free strategic internet marketing and web design advice, a parliamentary inquiry has claimed.

Better web design for the "patently flawed and obsolete" VisitScotland.com was also recommended in order to improve business growth and coordination within Scotland's tourism industry.

The report called for a free listing service on VisitScotland.com, as well as "free provision of software for companies to be web-enabled and the extra training and support that will be necessary".

"Businesses should then be offered free software and training to enable them to design their own websites, provide online booking etc," the report also noted.

Online marketing expert Laura Bergells of Kentwood suggested earlier last week that search engine optimisation (SEO) should be the key focus of web design.

She noted that firms all too often make the design an end in itself, without considering the SEO or marketing implications.

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