THE tourism industry has been severely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Border, airport and hotel shutdowns as well as limits on mass gatherings, land travel and associated services threatened 100 to 120 million jobs worldwide, the World Tourism Organization said.

In the Philippines, the government announced the closure of Luzon airports in March 2020 as part of the country's enhanced community quarantine. The tourism industry suffered. Travel restrictions and countermeasures in other countries began as early as January 2020, affecting international arrivals. Domestic tourists, on the other hand, reduced their trips because of the risk of catching Covid-19.