BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – More than 2,000 workers of tourism-related establishments in Negros Occidental lost their jobs since the start of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Majority of those displaced (954) were working in accommodation facilities, data from the Provincial Tourism Office showed.
Also incurring big job losses were the food and beverage sectors and tour and transport services (621 workers), including island hopping boats workers (156).
Those in sports and recreation facilities also lost their jobs – 123 tour guides / trike guides / boat guides-68 and tour, and 51 in travel agencies.
The wellness sector, on the other hand, had 58 displaced workers.
Other related but unclassified job losses of the local tourism are at 191.
Jennylind Cordero, provincial tourism officer, said the government should support the local tourism industry so it will rise up again.
About 79 resorts and accommodation facilities in the province have expressed intention to reopen following several months of closure caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Most of the establishments are only accepting local residents./PN
