Domestic tourism is now permitted in Scotland, along with visits to and from England and Wales (Northern Ireland currently has travel restrictions in place).
The change to the nation’s “Level 3” took place on 26 April. Prior to that the mainland had been on Level 4.
Restrictions on journeys within mainland Scotland have been lifted. Travel to and from the Scottish islands is permitted, though passengers from the mainland have been urged to take two free tests before they travel to the isles.
Tourist accommodation can reopen, with cafes, pubs and restaurants able to serve meals and drinks outside – and food indoors without alcohol to 8pm. Museums and galleries are also able to open.
The sequence of events for tourist accommodation is out of step with England. Travellers from England have been warned not to cross the border to Scotland to take advantage of the limited opening of indoor hospitality.
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It will happen three weeks before English pubs and restaurants can have customers inside.
Jason Leitch, Scotland’s national clinical director, warned: “Don’t cross the border to do things you can’t do in your own country. People from Cumbria shouldn’t come to the indoor hospitality in Dumfries.”
Further easing is expected to take place on 17 May, with the whole country moving to Level 2 – when hospitality business can serve indoors without time and alcohol restrictions.
On 7 June, a move to Level 1 is planned, allowing facilities such as funfairs, bowling alleys and soft play to reopen.
Level 0 is expected to be achieved in “late June,” with further easing on gatherings.
No decision has been taken on when international leisure travel may be permitted.
The government in London plans to resume international leisure travel on 17 May with a “traffic light” system for controls on return to the UK.
But Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, says: “We want people to be able to be travel more freely. But we must be sensible as we do that, in light of the risks that we face and in light of the risks we see across many parts of the world.
“if you’re in any doubt about anything I’m saying here, just turn on your television or go on the internet and look at India, look at France and many other parts of the world right now, Canada, where things are going in the wrong direction again.
“That’s what we’ve got to guard against.”
Ms Sturgeon says she continues to urge the government in London to extend hotel quarantine to all international arrivals – as Scotland does.
Many travellers from abroad to Scotland are arriving at English airports and going north to avoid the need to pay £1,750 for an 11-night stay in a hotel.
