Tourist guides to hold another protest on Wednesday
protest
11 May 2021
/ 09:23
CORFU. "We are protesting because the Greek State has basically forgotten about us."
The Ionian Islands & Western Greece Tourist Guide Association announced that it will be taking part in the national tourist guides' protest with a peaceful protest at Pentofanero on Wednesday at 11:00.
The statement says:
"We are protesting because the Greek State has basically forgotten about us.
The majority of tourist guides in Corfu and Western Greece have been unemployed since November 2019. Although the government is celebrating the restart of tourism on 15 May, nothing seems to have changed for us as the circumstances and the health protocols do not favour organised tours.
Assistance from the state has been almost non-existent and as a result many of our colleagues have been seeking employment elsewhere in order to survive. Since the beginning of the pandemic we have received a total of €2,936 even though all employees like ourselves were entitled to at least €534 a month.
We demand the following:
1. Rectroactive compensation for the 6 months in 2020 with insurance stamps
2. The official compensation for the months March, April and May 2021 with insurance stamps
3. Inclusion in the category of those affected by coronavirus so that we can be eligible for the corresponding reliefs and allowances (debt postponement, rent reduction etc.)
4. Realistic and functional protocols for 2021 regarding guided group tours. A whole professional sector, which provides value to our tourist product, is in danger of disappearing."
The statement says:
"We are protesting because the Greek State has basically forgotten about us.
The majority of tourist guides in Corfu and Western Greece have been unemployed since November 2019. Although the government is celebrating the restart of tourism on 15 May, nothing seems to have changed for us as the circumstances and the health protocols do not favour organised tours.
Assistance from the state has been almost non-existent and as a result many of our colleagues have been seeking employment elsewhere in order to survive. Since the beginning of the pandemic we have received a total of €2,936 even though all employees like ourselves were entitled to at least €534 a month.
We demand the following:
1. Rectroactive compensation for the 6 months in 2020 with insurance stamps
2. The official compensation for the months March, April and May 2021 with insurance stamps
3. Inclusion in the category of those affected by coronavirus so that we can be eligible for the corresponding reliefs and allowances (debt postponement, rent reduction etc.)
4. Realistic and functional protocols for 2021 regarding guided group tours. A whole professional sector, which provides value to our tourist product, is in danger of disappearing."
