Tour guides want fair play
Tourist guides in Sri Lanka face the challenge of being quarantined following a tour as a result of which they have requested that tour operators pay them accordingly and assure safety standards are adhered to strictly when on tour.
In this respect, the ‘Sri Lanka Institute of National Tourist Guide Lecturers’ (SLINTGL) in a letter to the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) Chairperson Kimarli Fernando has stated that since their members will be working in a “Bio Bubble Tourism Concept” in accordance with the health guidelines issued by the Health Ministry that Destination Management Companies (DMCs) there is a need to adhere to the rates requested by them.
Under the new normal bubble tourism package rate for SLINTGLs for working from 3 to 14 days rates have been indicated starting from Rs.91, 120 to Rs.150,000. This will include the 14 days quarantine period made compulsory under the given health regulations, the letter states.
The guidelines state: “All personnel accompanying the tourists; including tour guides, safari jeep drivers, bus drivers, other drivers, assistants and translators; unless attending in full PPE; should undergo a 14-day quarantine under the supervision of the local health authority, with the inclusion of PCR testing.”
In addition, the letter by the SLINTGL states that quarantine to be carried out at a predetermined hotel on a single full board basis including medical insurance covering COVID-19 to be provided to the guides as per the regulations. This is to entail a minimum of Rs.2 million hospitalisation cover and life cover of Rs.10 million considering the health risk.
Adequate PPE, masks and sanitizer and prior and post PCR/ Antigen/ any COVID related tests to be provided free of charge to any SLINTGL involved in the operation, the letter states.
SLINTGL President Dr. Mahesh Priyadharshana said that the guides require these facilities as they are the first contact with the tourist; and even in the instance when the first person who contracted COVID-19 they found that there was no assistance for them from anyone when they suffer the consequences of this health risk.
He pointed out that DMCs should ensure that the guidelines will not be violated at any time posing a health risk to them and that the Sri Lankan community too should be made aware of the guidelines.