From 4am on Friday (7 January), anyone arriving into the UK will no longer need to test negative for Covid-19 prior to departure.
They will also no longer need to self-isolate upon their arrival until they get a negative Day 2 test result, while the Day 2 testing standard will be lowered from PCR to lateral flow from 4am on Sunday (9 January).
SPAA vice president Mike Tibbert said the move was "hugely welcomed by all of us in the Scottish travel sector".
"Hopefully we can start to see the restoration of confidence in international travel, which is such a valuable sector for the entire Scottish economy," he added.
"We hope this is the start of positive messaging about travel and an end to mixed messaging, sudden U-turns and unexpected, lightning reversals of regulations.
"What we need now is a properly organised, structured, four nations roadmap to ensure a stable future for Scottish travellers and the recovery of the Scottish travel industry."
Meanwhile, Jacqueline Dobson, president of Barrhead Travel, said the news was "particularly welcome" ahead of the travel industry’s typical busiest booking period in January.
"These costly tests added a financial burden to many who were simply looking to reunite with loved ones over the festive period," she added.
"We know our customers will be relieved because these changes mean travel testing is now more accessible and more affordable."
Dooey echoed Tibbert’s calls for a unified approach from the devolved administrations, claiming that there is "no place for differing travel rules across the UK", as it "confuses travellers" and "dampens the recovery of both inbound and outbound tourism businesses".
"There is no doubt that these changes will trigger a major boost to customer confidence and will be welcomed by every area of the travel industry – including inbound and outbound businesses," Dobson continued.
"There is high demand to travel during 2022 – continued consistency and simplicity from all governments will therefore be key to restoring the industry and reassuring travellers."
