Scots around the world have been left disenchanted by "watered-down" plans to commemorate the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn, according to clan chiefs.
Some members of the Scottish diaspora lost money through Stirling Council's decision to cancel a clan gathering event similar to the well-received but financially-challenged Gathering 2009 in Edinburgh, the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs will tell MSPs today.
A separately-organised but related Bannockburn 2014 event has subsequently been expanded to include a clan village, but many international clans view this as a "watered-down" version of the original plan, the council said in a submission to Holyrood's Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee.
Council convener Malcolm MacGregor will appear before the committee today, alongside representatives from Homecoming Scotland, Stirling Council, Bannockburn 2014 and the National Trust for Scotland.
Mr MacGregor said: "The cancellation of Clans 2014 was a huge disappointment, both nationally and internationally.
"The vast majority of the diaspora who attend these events cannot afford to take the time off, or make an expensive visit to Scotland more than occasionally.
"They tend to arrange these visits to coincide with clan activities and short notice of major changes of plan has a disproportionately negative effect."
He added: "Some clans which had made travel arrangements and booked accommodation had to cancel them. Some lost money."
The original Gathering in 2009 was "a life-changing experience" for many people, but Mr MacGregor said the collapse of its organising body with debts of £344,000 cast a cloud over its success, and he has called for its creditors to be reimbursed by any future Gathering organiser.
Mr MacGregor said international clan societies were "surprised and disappointed" to hear that Clans 2014 had been replaced, not by a clan event, but by a battle re-enactment.
"Most had anticipated a re-run of Gathering 2009 in Stirling, and the watered-down plans were not well-received," he said.
"As far as the leaders of the US clan network were concerned, 2009 was a magical formula that worked and had considerable worldwide appeal. What was on offer now did not have the same appeal."
He added: "Given the problems associated with 2014, unfortunately many American Scots are generally disenchanted with what is now proposed."
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