VisitScotland has issued an update on the latest changes as Scotland begins a gradual move out of lockdown. First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, confirmed that all areas of Scotland will move to level zero from Monday 19 July. The next review is due on 9 August.

See the latest issue of Scotland News for more details and other updates.

The key changes for tourism from 19 July are:

Socialising:

Informal social gatherings of up to 15 people from 15 households will be permitted outdoors without physical distancing.

Gatherings of up to 10 people from four households will be permitted in all indoor public settings with 1 metre physical distancing.

Up to 8 people from 4 households can meet and stay overnight in private homes without the requirement for physical distancing.

Under 12s do not count towards the total number of people in any setting.

• Accommodation:

Hotels, B&Bs, self-catering venues, caravan and camp sites are permitted to open for leisure and tourism purposes. In public spaces within regulated (staffed) tourist accommodation, the rules about socialising in an indoors public place apply. In self-catered or other unregulated (unstaffed) accommodation, private home socialising rules apply. A bedroom should be occupied by members of only one household.

• Hospitality:

Hospitality settings can open till midnight, if their current licence permits that, and customers will no longer be required to pre-book a two-hour slot to go to a pub or restaurant but will still be required to provide contact details to assist Test & Protect.

Physical distancing will reduce to 1 metre in all indoor public settings and outdoors.

• Travel:

Travel is allowed between Scotland and England, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.

International quarantine regulations apply with a new exception for children and travellers who are fully vaccinated through a UK vaccination programme who will no longer have to self-isolate on arrival from an Amber country.

Visitors travelling to any of Scotland’s islands are being encouraged to take pre-departure lateral flow tests. Details here.

• Other:

Face coverings must continue to be worn on public transport, when not seated in indoor public hospitality settings and when in other indoor public spaces such as shops and visitor attractions.

Places and business that can open at Level 0 include:

• cafés, pubs and restaurants

• all shops and stores

• all close contact services including hairdressers, barbers and beauty salons

• all sport and exercise

• tourist accommodation

• all visitor attractions

• all public buildings like libraries and community centres

• all entertainment (apart from nightclubs and adult entertainment)

• stadiums and events – with maximum numbers