People living in Scotland could be barred from travelling to EU countries from January 1 due to rules aimed at combating the spread of Covid-19.
Unrestricted travel to the EU will no longer automatically apply to UK residents after the Brexit transition period ends on December 31, meaning only essential travel would be allowed to the 27 member countries.
At the moment, only countries with low coronavirus infection rates qualify for non-essential travel to the EU, with no plans in place to add the UK to the approved list, the BBC reports.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab acknowledged that travel could be disrupted across Europe, saying that Covid restrictions would depend on what the EU and member states decide.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that a restriction on travel is "inevitably" going to be kept under review and that any potential difficulty faced by people travelling to the EU would depend on "the prevalence of the virus in those continental European countries".
A earlier statement issued by a Government spokeswoman said: "We take a scientific, risk-based approach to health measures at the border, and it is of course in the interests of all countries to allow safe international travel as we emerge from the pandemic."
Travel trade organisation Abta have responded to the reports by saying it is too early to confirm what restrictions might be in place for UK travellers to the EU come January 1.
A spokesman for travel trade organisation Abta said: "The EU has sought to adopt a common approach to travel restrictions, but this is only a recommendation and individual countries are able to implement their own measures, including options like travel corridors and testing.
"It is too early to say what restrictions might be in place on January 1 given the uncertain nature of the pandemic, but we know that UK travellers are hugely important to a number of EU destinations, including some winter sun favourites like the Canary Islands and Madeira."
The news comes after Nicola Sturgeon warned Scots against booking 2021 summer holidays on the basis that the near future is still "quite uncertain" due to the ongoing pandemic.
