Tour guides, chauffeurs in a fix
View(s):Tourist guides and chauffeur guides are facing a crisis as the only means of income is gone since tourists have stopped coming.
Sri Lanka Institute of national Tourist Guide Lecturers President Dr. T.G.M. Priyadharshana said that they were severely impacted under the current crisis as 1,526 of their members are without work and no income at all.
In addition they were subject to criticism and hindrance from society for the job that they were engaged in as a result of which some of their members had contracted the coronavirus, he explained.
“Only three members have been affected and one of them died – a German-speaking tour guide,” he noted.
“Our members are finding it difficult to even stay at home due to the coronavirus as people have started to reject us and even our families and children have been ridiculed by society,” Dr. Priyadharshana stated.
This sector has requested a soft loan with a grace period of at least three years of at least Rs.1 million each due to the current crisis they are facing with no form of income.
Chauffeur Tourist Guides Association President Chandima Jayaweera said that their members have been asked to send a request letter before April 30 to the respective banks following the circular issued by the Central Bank.
Currently there are 1,200 directly working as chauffeur tourist guides but are without work and have invested heavily in vehicles for which they find it difficult to pay back monthly installments, he explained.
“The Government will have to sustain these people since they are needed as a key resource to continue the tourism industry in this country,” he said.
(SD)