From Iceland — Free Tour Given To Refugees Out Of Pure Kindness

Free Tour Given To Refugees Out Of Pure Kindness

Published October 14, 2015

Andie Sophia Fontaine
Photo by
Hans Guðmundsson

The owner of a tour bus company recently gave 30 refugees a free tour of part of Iceland, and is encouraging other tour companies to do the same.

Yesterday, Hans Guðmundsson – who runs the company Ibus – posted that he had given 30 refugees a tour of the Reykjanes peninsula, in southwest Iceland. He explained that the refugees in the group have been in Iceland for anywhere from a few days to a few months, and points out that “the waiting period [for processing] is difficult for them, having nothing to do and no financial means to go out and see anything.” As such, Hans decided to take matters into his own hands by offering them a free day tour.

“I encourage other bus companies to offer the Red Cross to take some of these people on a fun trip, or trips, because this gives these people so much,” he writes. “I probably got the most out of this trip myself, to see joy shining in the eyes of adults and kids alike.”

The post and the accompanying photo was posted to the Facebook group Bakland Ferðaþjónustunnar, a group specifically for workers in the tourism industry, and has received a warm reception.

“I have complete faith that many other good companies in this business are interested in helping make the wait more tolerable for these people,” Hans concluded.

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