Climbing gradually resumes, but more than 90% of mountain guides are economically imminent New Corona July 16 6:28

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Mountain climbing is gradually restarting at mountains around the country where self-restraint was called for by the influence of the new coronavirus, but more than 90% of the "mountain guide" that accompanies climbers and introduces the nature of the mountain, From this month onward, the prospect of work has not been able to stand out compared to the usual year, and it has been financially squeezed, a survey of the groups to which guides nationwide belong has revealed.

Due to the spread of infection in mountains throughout the country, people were called to refrain from climbing for a while due to the spread of infection, but since late May after the cancellation of the emergency declaration, some mountains have resumed climbing and are qualified mountain guides. Is accompanied by mountaineers and has started a tour to introduce the nature of the mountains. The summer mountain season, which has the highest number of mountaineers in a year, has arrived.

The Japan Mountain Guides Association, which has the most mountain guides in Japan, urgently conducted a questionnaire survey on mountain guides from the 3rd of this month in order to investigate the effects of the spread of infection, and received 308 responses.

As a result, 65% of the respondents answered that they had “almost no income” for their income as a mountain guide last month, with 18% “reducing less than half of last year” and 4 decreasing “compared to last year”. In total, 87% of the people lost their income.

Furthermore, regarding the work of guides from this month onwards, 39% of the respondents have “not many plans”, 36% of “less than half of the usual year” and 17% of “less than usual”, 92% in total. Although it was reopened, it was found that the job was not recovered after this month and the prospect was not standing up, and it was found that the economy was being cornered.

In addition, 25% of the people who started a side business other than the guide and changed the pillar of income to other than the guide.

It is considered that there are many cases where the mountain guide tour cannot be resumed because the mountain huts at the destination have not been restarted or the climbers' anxiety has been neglected, and the number of people has not gathered compared to before.

Shunji Takekawa, Chairman of the Japan Mountain Guide Association, who conducted the survey said, "I had some hopes after the declaration of emergency was lifted, but this is not the case. If this situation continues, it will be extremely difficult to continue the guide business. I was talking."

The mountain guides belonging to the association are about 2000 people nationwide.

The mountain guide is a professional mountaineer who has a lot of experience to guide the mountain while ensuring the safety of the mountaineer. The number of mountain guides who belong to Japan's largest mountain guide association is about 2,000 in Japan.

The mountain guide accompanies tours that guide one or more climbers and introduces the nature and history of the mountains.

In order to qualify as a mountain guide, each group conducts certification tests such as departments and practical skills in the mountains, grasps dangerous places in the mountains and supports safe mountain climbing It also plays an important role in protecting the safety of mountaineers during the initial response in the event of injury or sudden illness.

Many mountain guides do different jobs except during the mountain climbing season, but during the summer there are many tours, which means that the mountain guides make a lot of income during this time.