A Scots travel agent has demanded an urgent review of the decision to impose quarantine measures on people returning from Greece.
More than a thousand Barrhead Travel customers are currently being affected by the rules imposed on Greece on Tuesday evening, which will see anyone returning from Greece to Scotland have to self-isolate for 14 days.
The Scottish Government say the change in restrictions “is due to a significant rise in cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) being imported into Scotland by people who have been in Greece.”
But travel agent chiefs at Barrhead Travel have said the action is "disproportionate", and are demanding an explanation as to why the whole of Greece has been targeted.
READ MORE: Greece added to quarantine list - here's what it means for holidaymakers
Jacqueline Dobson, president of Barrhead Travel, pointed out that people returning to Wales would only have to quarantine if they had been in Zante.
More than a dozen cases were linked to a Tui flight from Zante to Cardiff on August 24, resulting in everyone on the flight being told to self-isolate for two weeks.
"Once again, Scottish holidaymakers are faced with a disjointed approach and a decision that is out of step with the rest of the UK," Ms Dobson said.
"It is a conflicting and confusing message for those due to travel.
"I would like to ask Mr Swinney for transparency regarding the figures of contracted cases coming from Greece to Scotland. We so far only hear about one confirmed case from Zante.
"At the moment, it appears that the blanket quarantine approach to Greece is disproportionate and excessive.
"Greece is well below the 20 cases per 100,000 threshold that the UK governments use as a guide for imposing quarantine restrictions on returning travellers.
"And the rise in cases, as the Welsh Government have indicated, has been linked to the island of Zante."
She added: “We would ask Mr Swinney to reflect on his decision and start to engage openly and transparently with the travel industry and holidaymakers so we can all make informed decisions about travel plans."
The travel agent president said both the Scottish and UK governments "urgently need to" address the "damage" being caused to the outbound travel industry with their quarantine approach.
READ MORE: Quarantine measures introduced for travellers from Greece
Ms Dobson said: "A testing solution at airports must be implemented sooner rather than later to give confidence to holidaymakers and to help get the inbound and outbound travel industries moving again.
“Travel agencies across Scotland today will be left to assist thousands of customers affected - but will have no further government support to help them during this continued crisis.”
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