U.S., Sept. 20 -- Edinburgh will be leaving BestCities Global Alliance at the end of the year, after extensive funding cuts from the public sector devastated Marketing Edinburgh. The organization is the destination's crucial convention and visitors bureau (CVB), responsible for promoting the city to the world as a place to visit and hold events.

The organisation was hit with an 89% budget cut over the next two financial years. The financial hit makes it impossible for the city to continue as part of BestCities Global Alliance, and eradicates any pipelined work within the CVB.

The departure comes after an extensive lobbying campaign, supported by BestCities and hundreds more of the world's business leaders across tourism and convention i...