From Saturday (18 December), only French citizens returning from the UK, or British people living in France, will be allowed entry to the country. All other travellers will have to provide a "compelling reason" to be permitted.
Following the announcement, SPAA vice-president Mark Tibbert said: "It’s like watching an approaching avalanche and being unable to outrun it.
"Confidence is rock bottom for the Scottish traveller. What little confidence there has been is shattered at the speed of these changes.
"On this occasion, they are announced out of the blue on Thursday morning and come into force on Saturday at midnight."
Tibbert said travellers mostly affected by the announcements will be those visiting France to spend Christmas with friends and those who have skiing breaks booked.
According to the SPAA, each year 1.5 million UK residents go on at least one international ski holiday with 5% of them going over Christmas, which equates to around 75,000 skiers.
"It’s another hammer blow for the travel sector, as this is the third season in a row to be disrupted; with one-and-a-half seasons not taking place at all," Tibbert continued.
"There’s no end date to this restriction from the French government, so the wider main ski season period may be affected.
"Travel agents face rebookings, cancellations and refunds again and yet again are working without income and on negative revenue as they have to do this work for no recompense and must pay credit card refund charges too.
"Travel agents receive no income until their clients actually travel. No travel means no income."
