“We need guests, we need people to fill the rooms to keep us operational and keep us afloat,” he said. The 1,032-hectare island has been hit hard by the travel restrictions especially on foreign travel since March last year. Boracay lost at least P49 billion in potential tourism revenues in 2020 as tourist arrivals dropped to 334,455 from 2.03 million in 2019. Tourists, especially those from Metro Manila who stay for a month or longer on the island, have been a “lifeline” for Boracay businesses that continue to operate, he added. Macavinta said business operators had also foreseen that changes put in place during the pandemic would remain when tourism returns to a “new normal,” citing an increase in online services and transactions to book trips.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer April 26, 2021 20:37 UTC