Greek Tourist Guides Call for Inclusion in Covid-1 Aid Scheme

Photo Source: @FEG Tourist Guides

The Greek Tourist Guide Federation is calling on the government to include professional guides in its financial support program aimed at mitigating the repercussions of the coronavirus epidemic.

According to the federation, the government’s subsidies cover travel agents and freelance guides but has not included professional guides.

The association is referring to the government’s latest 800-euro subsidy extended to some 1.7 million private-sector employees announced on Monday.

Also impacted by the Covid-19 health crisis, according to the federation are 2,300 tourist guide graduates who were set to begin work in March.

The federation goes on to note that tour guides working for several employers do not have access to the newly launched government platform which has opened for private sector employees eligible to receive state subsidies in view of Covid-19.

Besides the subsidy oversight, the federation is also referring to other issues including health insurance, social security and unemployment benefits.

The Greek Tourist Guide Federation adds that it has informed the economy, labor and tourism ministries of the aforementioned issues, urging them with a joint ministerial decision to include guides in the current emergency financial support program.