Sturgeon: 'I wouldn't book a foreign holiday right now'

Speaking during the Scottish government’s daily coronavirus briefing on Tuesday (28 July), Sturgeon said holidaymakers should not assume the rules in-destination at time of booking, or during their trip, will be the same once they come to take their holiday, or head home.

She said Europe was experiencing a "worrying resurgence" in Covid cases, noting spikes in Belgium, Germany, France, and most notably Spain.

The Department for Transport on Saturday (25 July) revoked Spain’s travel corridor, effectively re-imposing a two-week quarantine requirement on arrivals into England from Spain – including returning holidaymakers. The other three home nations took the same precaution simultaneously.

The Foreign Office has also since updated its travel advice to advise against all non-essential travel both to mainland Spain and its islands, in spite of their lower rates of coronavirus infection.

"As the prevalence of Covid in Scotland continues to fall, we must guard against the risk of cases coming into the country from outside," said Sturgeon.

"If necessary, the Scottish government will reimpose quarantine restrictions on travel from certain countries, as we did at the weekend for Spain, if those countries see a sharp increase in cases.

"People planning overseas holidays need to be aware of that. You cannot assume the rules and regulations applying to, or in, your destination when you book a holiday will stay the same while you are there, or be the same when you come to travel home.

"My advice to you remains to be very cautious about non-essential foreign travel at this time. If you are in a position to have a holiday, and want to take a holiday, the safest way of doing so is to stay here in Scotland so you avoid the risks of foreign travel but you are also, as an added bonus, helping the Scottish tourist industry as well."