The latest research into our international markets and how COVID-19 is impacting plans to visit Scotland
Explore below feedback from our international marketing teams and insight from the latest social listening.
In this section:
Market intelligence update: Europe
Market intelligence update: Australia, Canada, China and USA
Latest update:
All arrivals to Scotland from outside the Common Travel Area must book and pay for managed isolation in quarantine hotels to help protect against the importation of Coronavirus (COVID-19) from 15 February 2021. All arrivals must quarantine for at least 10 days and will be tested twice for the virus – once on day two and once on day eight after arrival. Read Scottish Government guidance on quarantine hotels.
Market intelligence update: Europe
The latest marketing insights from Europe gathered by our VisitScotland marketing teams.
France came out of national lockdown on 15 December but restrictions remain. Domestic movement was eased and replaced by a nightly curfew throughout mainland France.
From 31 January, all travels (arrivals and departures) from outside the European Area – including the UK – into France are prohibited, except for compelling reasons.
From 18 January, all international travels to the UK are suspended.
Health and recovery of market
On 16 October 2020 the French government restored the state of health emergency throughout France to give a "clear and solid legal basis" to the measures taken to contain the spread of new infections.
French authorities are closely monitoring levels of new infection rates. From 15 December 2020, lockdown measures have started being lifted. A nightly curfew from 6pm to 6am is currently in force in metropolitan France due to the active circulation of the virus. Cultural venues, restaurants, bars and recreational centres remain closed. Non-essential shops have re-opened since 28 November 2020.
French authorities are advising against the use of homemade fabric face coverings, considered to provide insufficient filtration against new COVID-19 variants, and only use three types of certified masks.
France aims to vaccinate its entire population by the end of August 2021, if all vaccines ordered are approved by European and global health authorities.
Quarantine and other travel restrictions
From 31 January, all travels (arrivals and departures) from outside the European Area – including the UK – into France are prohibited, except for compelling reasons. Everyone who arrives directly in Scotland by air from outside the CTA (Common Travel Area) must stay in a quarantine hotel for at least 10 days from arrival.
From 24 January, all international travellers (including EU and associated states) into France must present a negative PCR test result taken less than 72 hours before departure. Travellers from outside the European area (including the UK) must self-isolate for seven days on arrival and take a second test at the end of that period. Only PCR tests are accepted.
Travel restrictions have been in place between France and the UK since 20 December 2020, with travellers from the UK into France having to show a negative PCR test result taken 72 hours before boarding, a sworn statement certifying they do not have any COVID-19 symptoms and an official travel declaration for travel from the UK to France.
From 18 January 2021, all but essential travels between the UK and France are suspended. Returning UK residents and visitors from France are having to quarantine for 10 days when entering the UK, as well as present a negative COVID-19 test result, taken less than 72 hours prior departure. Check the full list of countries who can travel to Scotland without quarantine.
Aviation
Airline carriers and ferry companies have reduced their operations between France and the UK for the winter season. Please note that airline and ferry schedules remain subject to change and amendments. For an overview of European airline carriers with direct routes into Scotland and ferry operators with crossings between France and South England, please refer to our overseas travel pages.
We advise visitors to check latest connectivity, fares and safety measures directly with the transport providers. Returning UK residents and visitors from France are subject to 10 days quarantine upon arrival in the UK and must show a negative COVID-19 test.
Intermediary insights and horizon scanning
Enquiries from French tour operators are largely focusing around Scotland’s industry re-opening and health and safety measures – and around when quarantine restrictions are likely to be lifted again.
Some 2021 spring programmes might resume if quarantine and travel restrictions are lifted, flight routes have been reinstated and France’s national lockdown has been loosened. Tour operators are looking at 2021 for recovery, either reducing or reinventing their offering. Focus in 2021 will also be on customers who were issued a credit note/travel voucher as a result of their trip being cancelled in 2020.
According to an Interface Tourism France survey, 85% of travel operators estimate that Europe will cast more interest for French holidaymakers in 2021. Travel professionals do not expect recovery before summer 2021 for FIT and 2022 for the group sector.
For more insights into the French market see our visitors from France page.
From 16 December until at least 7 March, Germany is in national lockdown, with travel of any kind being strongly discouraged. Travel from the UK to Germany is only allowed for German citizens and residents (for essential reasons) and with a negative COVID-19 test result, taken less than 48 hours prior to travelling. Additionally, travellers will have to self-isolate for 10 days at arrival.
From 18 January, all international travel to the UK is suspended.
Health and recovery of market
German authorities are closely monitoring the country’s R rate, which since the start of October has continuously exceeded, and since the beginning of 2021 stagnated around one.
Since 16 December 2020, Germany has been in a national lockdown, with new restrictions on household gatherings and maximum group sizes in place. Contacts must be reduced to an absolute minimum, restaurants, bars and recreational centres are closed, along with non-essential shops. Most schools are reopening from 22 February 2021.
Quarantine and other travel restrictions
Returning residents and visitors from Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein are required to self-isolate for 10 days when entering the UK. Everyone who arrives directly in Scotland by air from outside the CTA (Common Travel Area) must stay in a quarantine hotel for at least 10 days from arrival.
From 1 October 2020, the German Foreign Office has moved away from general advice against non-essential travel to specific travel advice per country, thereby also including regions and countries at risk across the European Union and European Economic Area. Most EU countries, including parts of Germany itself, have since been classed as full or partial risk areas. The UK is classed as a full risk area.
From 21 December 2020, travellers from the UK to Germany (in addition to the obligation to quarantine on arrival and to fill in a registration form before travel), must also carry proof of a negative COVID-19 test in German or English (no older than 48hrs), or be tested on arrival.
Aviation
Airline carriers have reduced their operations between Scotland and Germany for the winter season. Please note that airline schedules remain subject to change and amendments. For an overview of European airline carriers with direct routes into Scotland, please refer to our overseas travel pages. We advise visitors to check latest connectivity, air fares and latest safety measures directly with the airlines.
Ferry operations are still ongoing, giving German visitors the option of travelling to Scotland via seaports in the Netherlands and North England with DFDS Seaways or P&O Ferries, albeit having to enter quarantine upon arrival in the UK.
However, the ban on non-essential travel between Germany and the UK also affects air travel and ferries, and tourism has been classed as non-essential by the German Government.
Intermediary insights and horizon scanning
Enquiries from German tour operators are largely focusing on Scotland’s industry re-opening and health and safety measures, as well as when quarantine measures are likely to be lifted.
Some early 2021 spring programmes might resume if quarantine restrictions have been lifted, flight routes have been reinstated and Germany’s national lockdown has been loosened.
For more insights into the German market see our visitors from Germany page.
From 18 January, all international travels to the UK are suspended. Sweden is closing its border with Norway after the government in Oslo introduced its strictest measures of the COVID-19 pandemic so far following several deaths close to the Norwegian capital from the more contagious variant first discovered in the UK. Similar bans will be in place with Denmark and the UK, both due to the new variant.
Health and recovery of market
Authorities in the Benelux and Nordic countries are closely monitoring levels of new infection rates. All North European countries are managing their lockdown separately and are easing restrictions at different paces.
Many North European countries are currently in national lockdown. Belgium's lockdown has been extended until 1 March, all non-essential travel is banned until then. Denmark has extended its lockdown imposed in December until March.
Dutch lockdown measures will continue until at least 9 February and the government advises against booking any trips abroad until at least 31 March. On 23 February, the Dutch government will decide whether to modify the current lockdown measures, including the curfew which has been extended until 3 March.
Quarantine and other travel restrictions
From 18 January, all international travels to the UK are suspended until at least 15 February. Travellers to the UK are required to self-isolate for 10 days and present a negative COVID-19 test result, taken less than 72 hours prior to entry. Limited exemptions apply. Everyone who arrives directly in Scotland by air from outside the CTA (Common Travel Area) must stay in a quarantine hotel for at least 10 days from arrival.
Aviation
Airline carriers have reduced their operations between Scotland and North Europe for the winter season. Please note that airline schedules remain subject to change and amendments. For an overview of European airline carriers with direct routes into Scotland, please refer to our overseas travel pages. We advise visitors to check latest connectivity, air fares and latest safety measures directly with the airlines.
KLM has implemented a flight ban from the United Kingdom, South Africa and South America to the Netherlands as of 23 January 2021. The airline has also developed a safe alternative testing protocol for crews leaving the airport in countries that are not on the governmental list of safe countries. This includes a rapid antigen test for their crew which will be arranged at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol before departing from and after returning to the Netherlands.
Ferry operations are still ongoing, giving visitors from the Benelux countries the option of travelling to Scotland via seaports in the Netherlands and North England with DFDS Seaways or P&O Ferries. Returning UK residents and visitors from the Benelux and others who use the Dutch and Belgian ferry routes as transit route will need to self-isolate for 10 days upon arrival.
Intermediary insights and horizon scanning
Enquiries from North European tour operators are largely focusing around Scotland’s industry re-opening and health and safety measures. Many tour operators are working on their 2021 programmes and some of the Dutch operators are reporting that 70% of their client base already has holidays plans for next year.
It is likely that they may not add any new products for 2021, instead they might stick to what they had already planned previously. A trend that can be seen for North Europe is that people are currently less inclined to fly, instead travelling with their own cars is becoming more and more popular.
Due to quarantine re-imposed for Benelux countries as well as Sweden and Denmark, and Nordic countries being extremely cautious, more and more tour operators have shifted their focus to the 2021 spring/summer season.
Trade/holiday fairs like Vakantiebeurs in Utrecht and Travel News Market in Stockholm have been postponed until April 2021 and November 2021 respectively.
For more insights on the Netherlands, Norways and Sweden see our country specific pages:
Due to a rise in new infections, domestic travel within individual countries and cross-border movement within Europe has been compromised for all Southern European markets. From 18 January, all international travels to the UK are suspended.
Health and recovery of market
Authorities in Spain, Italy, Portugal and Greece are closely monitoring levels of new infection rates. All South European countries are managing their lockdown separately, even region by region within each country, imposing local or regional restrictions when deemed necessary.
Across South European markets hospitality, workplaces and schools have reopened, but Spain and Italy are having to contain growing local outbreaks and partial lockdowns in addition to imposing opening and capacity restrictions of hospitality businesses in certain regions to break the chain of new infections.
Quarantine and other travel restrictions
From 18 January, all international travels to the UK are suspended. Travellers to the UK are required to self-isolate for 10 days and present a negative COVID-19 test result, taken less than 72 hours prior to entry. Limited exemptions apply. Everyone who arrives directly in Scotland by air from outside the CTA (Common Travel Area) must stay in a quarantine hotel for at least 10 days from arrival.
All Southern European countries allow only UK nationals who have their permanent residence in Spain, Italy, Greece or Portugal and request them to present a negative COVID-19 test taken 72 hours before boarding their flights or vessels.
Arrivals to Italy from the UK are banned until 5 March, although the entry of Italian residents is permitted with a negative PCR test and self-isolation for 14 days. In addition, travellers entering Greece are required to self-isolate for seven days upon arrival.
Aviation
Airlines have paused most of their flights between Scotland and Spain, Italy and Greece. For an overview of European airline carriers with direct routes into Scotland, please refer to our overseas travel pages.
We advise visitors to check latest connectivity, air fares and latest safety measures directly with the airlines.
Intermediary insights and horizon scanning
Tour operators from South Europe foresee a 2021 focused on national holidays, concentrated especially during summertime, and a restart on outbound travel from September onwards, when most of the population will already be vaccinated.
Important travel trade fairs such as Fitur, in Spain, BIT Milan, in Italy, or Bolsa Turismo Lisboa (BTL), in Portugal, have been scheduled face-to-face for May 2021. The decision to reschedule BTL from March to May, was taken at the end of January 2021.
For more insights on Spain and Italy see our country specific pages:
Market intelligence update: Australia, Canada, China and USA
The latest marketing insights from Australia, Canada, China and the USA gathered from our VisitScotland marketing teams.
In Canada a monthly rolling travel advisory (extended to 21 February 2021) is still in place advising against all non-essential travel. The Canadian / US border closure has also been extended until this date. Anyone arriving in Canada for essential travel purposes is subject to a 14 day quarantine period.
In the US, COVID-19 case numbers remain high and the US Government continues to have a level three travel advisory to the United Kingdom in place where it advises US citizens to ‘reconsider travel’ to the United Kingdom due to COVID-19.
In China, travel restrictions into the country remain some of the strictest in the world.
The Australian Government has established a safe travel zone with New Zealand, with the first passengers from New Zealand arriving in Australia on 17 October as the ‘one-way’ trans-Tasman bubble opened.
COVID-19 case numbers remain low across Australia. The different states and territories of the country act independently but are all continuing to impose strict lockdowns and curfew measures as soon as new cases arise in state.
There is currently no international travel from Australia, with entry to the border closed except for Australian citizens and permanent residents or those with an exemption.
Health and recovery of market
Australia continues to experience low numbers of coronavirus with very low numbers or zero new local cases of COVID-19 being reported in some of our key visitor DMA’s including; New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland. The vaccination roll out has started in Australia with the government aiming to have four million citizens vaccinated by March and the entire country inoculated by October.
Quarantine and other travel restrictions
Currently only essential international travel is allowed from Australia. Indications from the market are that the international border will remain closed for some time into 2021, with no confirmed dates for re-opening.
It was announced that Australia’s coronavirus travel bubble with New Zealand will recommence on Sunday the 21 February, following a consistent report of no or low local transmission. While green-zone flights will resume on the 21 February, all passengers who have been in Auckland will need to provide proof of a negative PCR test until 1 March 2021.
Aviation
Middle East Carriers started to fly direct to Scotland in July 2020. Qatar are running three flights a week from Doha to Edinburgh. Emirates' flights from Dubai to Glasgow have been suspended from 29 January 2021 until further notice due to UK Government restrictions.
Other than repatriation operations, international flights with Australian flag carrier, Qantas, have been suspended throughout the pandemic. Qantas flights to the UK are unlikely to start until at least October 2021.
Intermediary insights and horizon scanning
Product development continues for many Australian operators who are looking at opportunities for 2021, 2022 and beyond and hoping to capitalise on huge pent up travel demand in market when restrictions are lifted. Due to international border closures, Australian travel trade have reprioritised efforts into stimulating domestic tourism and promoting staycation holiday deals.
For more insights into the Australian market see our visitors from Australia page.
Canada has seen an increase in COVID-19 cases across our key visitor provinces however overall Canada has seen a 30 per cent decrease in active COVID-19 cases, compared to two weeks ago (accurate 5 February 2021). Some of the new strains which has developed in other countries have been recorded in Canada.
A monthly rolling travel advisory (extended to 21 February 2021) is still in place advising against all non-essential travel. The Canadian / US border closure has also been extended until this date.
Anyone arriving in Canada for essential travel purposes has to provide a negative within 72 hours at point of departure and is subject to a 14-day quarantine period on arrival.
Health and recovery of market
Provinces have been implementing local lockdowns to help combat the spread, but cases have been rising across the country.
Quarantine and other travel restrictions
Canadian visitors, like all international arrivals to the UK are required to present a negative COVID-19 test taken up to 72 hours prior to departure. Travellers from Canada to the UK / Scotland will also be required to quarantine for 10 days. Please note that a negative test result pre-arrival will not result in a reduction in quarantine and the full 10 days self-isolation will still be required unless you opt into the ‘test to release’ scheme.
England will start a Test to Release scheme on 15 December for International Travellers aimed at people who need to self-isolate on arrival in England. Under the scheme you can choose to pay for a private COVID-19 test. The earliest you can take the test is five full days after you left a place not on the travel corridor list. If the result is negative, you can stop self-isolating. The scheme is voluntary and applies to those self-isolating in England only. If you do not want to opt into the Test to Release scheme, you will need to self-isolate for 10 full days. There are currently no plans for this to be rolled out in Scotland.
As of the date of this update, Quarantine hotels have been muted for arriving passengers to the UK, but details of these arrangements have not been published yet.
Canadian travellers aged five and over must present a negative PCR or LAMP test within 72 hours of departure (with temporary exceptions for select locations) before boarding their flight to Canada. Failure to do so will result in a denial of boarding.
Aviation
With only essential workers and certain family circumstances allowed for travel purposes, there are rapid testing programmes now taking place at Toronto, Montréal, Calgary and Vancouver International Airports for those that wish to demonstrate a negative test, for countries that require evidence of a negative test and for those who wish to reduce quarantine time on arrival back to Canada.
Intermediary insights and horizon scanning
The Canadian travel trade are ready to send visitors to Scotland however, with current border restrictions in place within Canada and the UK this is not possible.
The travel industry are currently lobbying the Federal Government for details of criteria and timescales which will allow the safe reopening of the international border.
For more insights into the Canadian market see our visitors from Canada page.
China has started to roll out its COVID-19 vaccination programme at pace, with 34 million doses administered as of 22 February 2021. China continues to see local outbreaks however fast and tight lockdown restrictions and an efficient track, trace and test system has helped to keep the virus largely under control since Spring last year and the economy recover quicker than other markets with 6.5% year of year growth for Q4 of 2020, expected to rise higher in Q1 of 2021.
Health and recovery of market
Vaccinations began with 18–59 year olds in key worker groups and those in public-facing roles such as public transport, customs and border control. Beijing has said that the country has the capacity to produce one billion doses of their vaccine this year and aims to vaccinate 60-70% of the population.
The vaccine is free for every resident and vaccination status will be recorded in a resident’s health-code profile and they will return to the vaccination centres for their second dose in 14-21 days.
Quarantine and other travel restrictions
With continued fear of imported cases, particularly now of the new UK, Brazilian and South African strains of the virus, international travel restrictions into China are some of the tightest in the world and travel into China from the UK is currently suspended.
Aviation
From 24 December China suspended all flights to and from the UK because of the new coronavirus variant found in the UK.
For other countries, the Civil Aviation Administration China retains its policy that if all inbound passengers on an airline test negative for COVID-19 for three weeks in a row, the operating airline will be allowed to increase its number of flights to two per week from the mandated one.
If the number of passengers testing positive reaches five, the airline's flights will be suspended for a week. The suspension will last for four weeks if the number of passengers who test positive for COVID-19 is between five and 10. After any length of suspension, an airline returns to the mandated one flight per week.
Intermediary insights and horizon scanning
China has yet to officially clear restrictions that prevent tour companies from resuming outbound tour sales. In the meantime, the travel trade are warming once again to destination training and product development opportunities and are excited to hear more about what Scotland will have to offer once travel restrictions lift.
For more insights into the Chinese market see our visitors from China page or view our China toolkit.
COVID-19 case numbers remain high across the USA. The US Government has issued a level three travel advisory to the United Kingdom where it advises US citizens to ‘reconsider travel’ to the United Kingdom due to COVID-19. US citizens are still subject to a 10 day quarantine period when travelling to UK and travelers to England will now be required to produce a negative COVID-19 test 72 hours prior to departure.
Health and recovery of market
COVID-19 case numbers remain high across the USA and this includes our key visitor DMA’s of California, New York, Texas, Florida and Illinois which have all seen case increases in the past week (data accurate 8 February 2021). Overall, the number of new cases in the US has decreased by 16% in the past week (28 January - 3 February) and the number of cases dropped below one million for the first time since 5 November 2020.
Quarantine and other travel restrictions
US visitors, like all international arrivals to the UK are required to present a negative COVID-19 test taken up to 72 hours prior to departure.
The CDC has announced that all US airline passengers (ages two years and older) must provide a negative COVID-19 viral test taken within three calendar days of travel regardless of where they are traveling from. This means that US visitors will also need to provide negative test results within three days of their planned return to the US.
US is now dependent on negative viral test (NAAT or antigen) and must be shown to the airline prior to boarding.
The test must be a viral test (NAAT or antigen test) to determine if you are currently infected with COVID-19. Travelers should avoid the antibody tests which look for prior infection.
Test results should state any/all of the following:
- Negative,
- Sars-CoV-2-RNA Not Detected,
- SARS-CoV2 Antigen Not Detected, and/or
- COVID-19 Not Detected
Travelers from USA to the UK / Scotland will also be required to quarantine for 10 days. Please note that a negative test result pre-arrival will not result in a reduction in quarantine and the full 10 days self-isolation will still be required unless you opt into the ‘test to release’ scheme.
England started a Test to Release scheme on 15 December for International Travelers aimed at people who need to self-isolate on arrival in England. Under the scheme you can choose to pay for a private COVID-19 test. The earliest you can take the test is five full days after you left a place not on the travel corridor list. If the result is negative, you can stop self-isolating.
The scheme is voluntary and applies to those self-isolating in England only. If you do not want to opt into the Test to Release scheme, you will need to self-isolate for 10 full days after you were last in a place not on the travel corridors list. There are currently no plans for this to be rolled out in Scotland.
The US Government has issued a level three travel advisory to the United Kingdom where it advises US citizens to reconsider travel to the United Kingdom due to COVID-19. The CDC issued a Level 4 (Very High) Travel Health Notice for the United Kingdom due to COVID-19.
Aviation
There are various US air routes in operation connecting key hubs in the US with London Heathrow. Direct air routes between Scotland and the US are expected to resume in 2021. Please note that airline schedules are subject to change and amendments so please check directly with the airline for the latest guidance.
Intermediary insights and horizon scanning
Continued interest from US travel trade on when Scotland will remove travel restrictions for US visitors. Exploring Scotland virtually - with virtual experiences and related content continues to be of interest to travel trade and US consumers alike. Product development continues for many US operators looking at opportunities for 2022 and beyond.
For more insights into the US market see our visitors from the US page.
International COVID-19 sentiment research
In partnership with VisitBritain, Visit Wales, and London & Partners, research was commissioned to understand international consumer sentiment towards international travel during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wave 1 of the tracker was fielded between 2-16 December 2020 in 14 markets: Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, the Irish Republic, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden and the USA.
Visit the Visit Britain website for a summary of the research and to download the full report.