THE Covid-19 pandemic has adversely impacted on more than 4,000 guides in Malaysia, with most of them depending solely on the tourism industry to eke out a living.

Malaysian Tourist Guides Council (MTGC) president Jimmy Leong Wie Kong told The Malaysian Insight there are more than 8,000 registered tour guides but when categorised into “new”, “critical” and “veteran”, the council found that some are in more dire straits than others.

“Those in a critical situation are guides who have been in the profession for between two and 25 years with their average age between 30 and 50,” Leong said.

“Almost 50% of the licensed tour guides fall in this category, meaning almost half of registered tour guides are badly affected.

“They are termed critical because this (job) is their bread and butter and they are the sole breadwinners for their families.”

Since there is no assurance about the future, many guides in this category have either abandoned the profession or are taking a hiatus while looking for alternative sources of income.

Many are doing online sales or have become e-hailing drivers, Leong told The Malaysian Insight.

Younger and newer guides are less impacted because they only joined the profession recently and are also less likely to have as many dependents and commitments as more established guides.

About 15% of registered tour guides are new or recent entries.

“The new ones are also more able to change careers,” Leong said.

About 35% are categorised as veteran guides, aged 50 and above.

“The veteran guides are also not as stricken as those in the critical group as they have savings and were already preparing for retirement. They are tour guides on a part-time basis.”

Leong, who is also the Johor Tourist Guides’ Association chairman, said Covid-19 is the worst crisis he had seen in his 47-year career.

The SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) outbreak in 2003 was brought under control in a shorter time but the Covid-19 pandemic is prolonged and still shows no sign of abating, he said.

Although domestic tourism has been allowed since June 10 after a lockdown of more than two months, Leong said it will be a long time before the industry recovers, as the country’s borders are still closed to foreign tourists and visitors.

“Domestic travellers don’t use tour guides. They prefer to drive their own car.

“So, tour guides are looking at a bleak future because no one can promise anything at the moment. Covid-19 is not a factor we can control, even though there are SOP and regulations on handling tourists.

“Nothing is guaranteed until a vaccine is found.”

He welcomed the Malaysia-Singapore agreement to allow limited cross-border travel under the periodic commuting arrangement (PCA) and the reciprocal green lane (RGL) but noted that these are for official purpose and business travel.

“Travel for leisure will the last thing to be considered

“These two arrangements are also like a trial. If there is an increase in Covid-19 cases as a result, these cross-border travel arrangements will also likely stop.”

Leong said various state governments are offering incentives to tour guides to help them cope with the loss of income this period.

Likewise, MTGC is helping guides by giving licence-fee exemptions for two years.

“We can’t afford to give monetary compensation or handouts. Ours is an association that focuses on training and upskilling.”

Leong said the government’s aid to tour guides taxi drivers, tourist bus drivers and registered trishaw drivers under the Prihatin package was only a one-off RM600. – September 1, 2020.