VisitScotland said the money saved would be spent on marketing

VisitScotland's Trafalgar Square base will be shut in March, making a saving of �500,000, a spokeswoman said.

VisitScotland said that since 1996, the number of walk-in visitors fell from 300,000 to 50,000 a year. In 2006, only 600 bookings were made via the office.

However, the decision to close its visitor centre and tourism information centre has been criticised by the SNP.

The 600 bookings made annually through the office is equivalent to more than �800 for each booking, VisitScotland claimed.

'Biggest market'

It said the money which would be saved from the closure would be spent on other forms of marketing and promotion.

However, the SNP's tourism spokesman said he was "baffled" by the decision and called on the organisation to rethink its plans.

Pete Wishart MP said: "Tourists from England are our biggest market outwith native Scots and as such we should be looking to grow our market share from England.

"Following the closure of this office, VisitScotland will have no physical presence in London.

"We will also therefore lose the opportunity to attract vital foreign tourists to Scotland who use London as a gateway to further destinations."