Sturgeon told the Scottish parliament on Tuesday (26 October) that from 4am on 31 October, fully vaccinated arrivals into Scotland will no longer have to take a Day 2 PCR test.
Instead, they will be able to take a cheaper lateral flow test, bringing Scotland in line with the rules that came into force in England on Sunday (24 October).
Like in England, the new rules will apply to all non-red list arrivals. Tests will be verified using a photo.
"For practical reasons, the Scottish government has decided to align with this change," said Sturgeon, who revealed tests would be bookable from around 5pm on Friday from the gov.uk website.
"These tests will cost between £20 to £30 per test, which is less than a PCR test," she added. "I’m sure that this change will be welcomed by many travellers, and by the travel industry."
Barrhead Travel president Jacqueline Dobson was among the first to welcome the news. "We can finally move into the Christmas period with the most sustainable and accessible travel framework that we’ve had since before the pandemic," she said.
“A four-nations approach is the only feasible way for international travel to fully recover, so it’s positive to see decision-making that is much more in sync than earlier this year.
“Confidence is returning to the market, reflected in the growth in demand across October from our customers. With every announcement comes an increase in bookings, and I expect this move will be no different.
"The world is reopening, and travellers are keen to reconnect with countries, cultures and loved ones. Our teams across the country stand ready to support our customers with their long-awaited travel plans.”
