Scots will be able to travel abroad to certain countries from next week after Nicola Sturgeon announced a new 'traffic light' system.
During Tuesday's briefing, The First Minister said Scotland will adopt a 'green list' to allow people to travel to and from certain destinations without having to quarantine.
The traffic light system - similar to the one announced by Boris Johnson in England - will come into effect from Monday, May 17.
Under the new restrictions, foreign countries will be classed as green, amber or red depending on the state of the pandemic in each place and Covid-19 variants.
Scots had been waiting to find out when international travel could resume in order to book holidays or visit family and friends abroad.
During the Covid update, the SNP leader warned travellers to 'think seriously' about booking a summer holiday to a foreign destination and urged people to book staycations instead.
She said: "When it comes to holidays abroad, my advice continues to be to err on the side of caution and staycation this year."
How Scotland's traffic light system works
Countries are in three categories - green, amber and red. Green countries have the fewest rules with no need to quarantine.
Their status depends on the number of Covid-19 cases in each country, the success of their vaccine rollout and any worrying virus variants present.
Scotland will follow England, Wales and Northern Ireland in a four nations approach on foreign travel.
However, Sturgeon warned that the Scottish Government 'will continue to take decisions that are right for Scotland'.
Green list
There is no need to quarantine after travelling back from a 'green' country, but people must take a PCR test shortly after arrival.
The 12 countries and territories on the green list are:
- Portugal
- Israel
- Singapore
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Brunei
- Iceland
- Gibraltar
- Falkland Islands
- Faroe Islands
- South Georgia and the Sandwich Islands
- St Helena, Tristan de Cunha and Ascension Island
Amber list
Travellers must self-isolate at home for 10 days and take two PCR tests during this time.
The Scottish Government is expected to give further guidance on which countries and territories will be classed as amber.
Red list
You should not travel to a red list country for leisure.
People who do need to travel have to isolate in a hotel, at a cost of about £1,750.
The First Minister outlined three of the countries currently on the red list, with more to be announced later today.
The countries currently on this list include:
There are more countries and territories to be added to this list.
- Turkey
- Maldives
- Nepal
