Kenyan Tour Guides have called on the Government to offer them cash relief against Covid-19.
The Guides told Hot News that the Department of Tourism should establish a financial relief mechanism.
They said the current lockdown and suspension of flights have reduced them to paupers.
“The beneficiaries of the scheme should include tour guides who are registered with the registrar as per the Tourism Act. Tour guides who are not employed by any company and freelancers and independent contractors without a job security should also be considered,” said Willis Sande a seasoned Tour guide.
He said the government has channeled money towards businesses in the tourism sector who have not been affected as much as the small players.
The Guides said the Tourism Relief Fund should not ignore the Registered tour Guides Associations as the Guides rightfully qualify for the fund.
Sande said the Guides have not been contacted.
He added that freelance tour guides affiliated to registered associations are being discriminated.
“We would like to emphasize the importance of the tour guides as the true ambassadors of the country’s tourism. They are the first, longest and probably the last contacts tourists make during their visit to Kenya,” Sande said.
He said Tourism services support other economic sectors and the guides form part of the main cogwheel.
The guides said giving cash incentives and bail outs to large Hotels, yet they have sacked employees is unreasonable.
Sentrim Hotels and Game lodges has closed its 7 lodges and sent home at least 700 staff.
The Fairmont Norfolk and Kempinski Hotel have sacked employees too.
Beginning first June 2020 Serena Hotels send home all its staff on unpaid leave.
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