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Abstract
The spread of Covid-19 has led to a global problem in all aspects of life, including in the
tourism sector that directly affects the hotel industry. Asia as a continent with many
countries that rely most of their revenue on tourism suffers a severe blow. The purpose of
this study was to investigate the impacts of the novel Covid-19 on the hotel industry in
Asian countries. Through a descriptive qualitative method, the researchers collected data
from journals, research reports, books, government documents, articles, and websites. In
analyzing the data, the researchers make a comparison between the Asian continent and
other continents such as Europe, America, Africa, and Australia by focusing on the hotel
occupancy in those continents. The result shows that the rate of hotel occupancy in Asia
dropped by 57% and 63,4 million employees lose their jobs. This condition is mainly
caused by the travel ban regulation that is followed by the temporary closure of tourist
destinations. The hotel industry in Asia has lost up to US$ 1.041 million due to massive
booking cancellations, and employees in this industry are even more severely affected as
they have no income to support their life.
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showing any signs of illness, fever, or of Covid-19, the demand for exports and
cough. There are three types of silent imports to China has declined
spreaders, namely asymptomatic, pre- significantly, and thus damaging their
symptomatic, and very mildly economy. When China’s economy is in
symptomatic. Asymptomatic carriers are trouble, it is most likely that the other
people who carry an active virus in their countries that have a business relation
body, but they have never experienced with China will get impacted too. The
any symptoms such as fever, coughing, effects of Covid-19 on the economy are
breathing issues, or gastrointestinal even more severe for small businesses.
issues. It is difficult to identify when Pressure due to being unable to carry out
someone has the disease but do not show business activities and the deterioration
any symptoms of it. Pre-symptomatic of economic activity make them decide to
carriers are people who have been close their business, and thus causing
infected and are isolating themselves, but many people to lose their jobs.
they have not shown any symptoms. Other than effects on the global
People who are in the pre-symptomatic economy, Covid-19 also shuts down
phase usually can transmit the virus in public transport since the use of public
one to three days before they begin to transport may increase the spread of the
show the symptoms. The last, very mildly virus. To prevent this massive
symptomatic carriers are those who feel a transmission, many countries have
little sick but still do an activity in close enacted rules on the travel ban. For
contact with others. The symptoms begin example, the Indonesian government has
with mild fever or slight cough, but they implemented a large-scale social
always go to public places and indirectly restriction (PSBB) since March 2020.
spread the virus. After all, even though Residents are not allowed to leave their
the symptoms shown are in a light houses for any unnecessary intentions.
category, the virus can still be They cannot travel leaving their district,
transmittable and endangers other regency, or province. Bus stations, train
people. stations, airports, and ports are all on
In addition to the fatal shutdown, making it difficult for anyone
implications for people’s health, Covid- to travel from one place to another, and
19 has affected many aspects of life all thus reducing the spread of the virus.
around the world, such as in the Similarly, the Philippines government
economy, transportation, tourism, etc. On has imposed travel restrictions since
the economic side, the spread of March 17, 2020. All of the transportation
coronavirus has negatively affected the means in the Philippines, both private and
economy of many countries all over the public transport, are suspended during
globe, particularly that of developing the lockdown to minimize the
countries such as Asian countries. This transmission of Covid-19 (Bisnis, 2020).
virus has slowed down the growth of the It also happens in Thailand that all flights
economy in many ways. For example, the for exit and entry into Thailand are
slowing trade between Indonesia and suspended. This regulation is strictly
China due to the massive ban on travel implemented by Thai people to push the
and the shutdown of transportation number of coronavirus cases, resulting in
access has disrupted the distribution, no new cases on May 22, 2020 (WHO,
production, and consumption activities. 2020).
Indeed, China is the center of the The global shutdown, in a more
economy and the main player of export knock-on effect, has disturbed the
and import in Asia. Due to the fast spread tourism aspect as well. Limited mobility
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has decreased or even shut down many as this country welcomed 16.3 million
tourist destinations across the globe. The international travelers in 2019 (Vietnam
shutdown of tourism destinations is done Briefing News, 2019). Indeed, the loss
to prevent the spread of the virus and caused by the massive impact of Covid-
decrease the death caused by Covid-19. 19 on the tourism sector has led to deeper
A lot of tourism destinations in Asia are detrimental consequences on many
closed for both domestic and tourism sub-sectors, including the
international travelers. The government hospitality industry, particularly the hotel
around the world prioritizes the health industry in Asian countries.
and safety of their citizens and thus According to Travel Agent Central
deciding to ban travel. For example, in (2017), Asia is the second most visited
Thailand, Legend Siam's amusement continent in 2016 with 19.5% visits,
park has announced its closure starting following Europe in the first place with
March 3, 2020 due to a decline in visitors. 58% visits. For developing countries like
In Hong Kong, Disneyland is also closed many countries in Asia, tourism plays a
without any information as to when it will highly important role in three aspects,
be on business again. In Indonesia, namely income generator, employment,
according to The District Government, and foreign-exchange earnings. The hotel
some tourism destinations such as Tanah industry in China contributed to the
Lot, Ulun, Beratan, Jatiluwih, Bali Zoo, nation's GDP by 11% in 2017 (China
and GWK are temporarily closed on tourism and hotel industry, 2018).
March 22-30, 2020. In Japan, some Vietnam, one of the most attractive
tourism places such as Tokyo countries in ASEAN, was supported by
Disneyland, Cup Noodles Museum, its hotel industry at around €208.1 billion
Engakuhi Temple, and others are closed with an annual growth rate of 6.7%. The
temporarily (Japan-guide, 2020). In country's nominal Gross Domestic
South Korea, the entrance to Seokchon Product (GDP) is estimated at € 248.8
Lake is also temporarily closed until mid- billion in 2020 (UK-ASEAN business
April to prevent people from visiting this council, 2018). Meanwhile, the hotel
tourist attraction during the coronavirus industry in Lebanon gave $203 in July
pandemic (koreatravelpost, 2020). 2018 (Vilis, 2019). In Indonesia, the
Besides, public places that have the hotel industry was able to pocket an
potential to cause crowds such as income of around Rp 6.73 trillion since
restaurants, places of worship, and malls September 30, 2019 (Investor daily
are also temporarily closed (KOMPAS, Indonesia, 2020). However, since the
2020). outbreak of Covid-19, activities in the
Tourism is a vital source of a hotel industry in many Asian countries
country’s national revenue. In some have stopped because a lot of tourists
countries in Asia, tourism provides most cannot travel anywhere. The hotel
of the government’s revenue. One of the industry is seen to be facing new threats
Asian countries that earn high revenue that have never been discovered before.
from tourism is Thailand. According to Indeed, even though the hotel industry
Knoema (2018), in 2018, tourism in sector plays an important role in
Thailand, Indonesia, Srilanka, and Japan supporting national revenues, there is no
contributed 21.6 %, 6%, 12.5%, and deep research about that. Therefore, the
7.4% to its Gross Domestic Product researchers try to investigate the impacts
(GDP) respectively. Vietnam also of the novel Covid-19 on the hotel
benefitted from the tourism sector as industry in Asian countries.
much as 15.4% contribution to its GDP
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0%
-20%
-40%
-60%
-80%
-100%
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1.041 million (World Travel & Tourism As shown in the data, almost all
Council, 2020). countries in all continents experience a
Indeed, the decline in hotel dramatic decline in their hotel
occupancy does not only happen in Asian occupancy. In Asian countries, the
countries. It also happens in most average decline in hotel occupancy is
continents such as in Europe, Africa, 58.74%. In Europe, the decline of hotel
America, and Australia. In Europe, this occupancy is slightly lower than in Asia
declining trend in hotel occupancy has with 57.70%. Africa, America, and
started since the first cases of Covid-19 Australia are in a better condition with
was confirmed in France on January 24, less than 50% decline in hotel occupancy,
2020. This deadly virus has a devastating i.e. 25.6%, 44%, and 14.60%
effect on the hotel industry across Europe respectively. Therefore, it is clear that
especially in Italy where the number of Asian countries get the most severe effect
cases escalates quickly and drops hotel of Covid-19 on their hotel industry. This
occupancy by 85% (Hospitality Net, condition is partly caused by the fact that
2020). Similarly, Swiss and France most Asian countries rely on tourism a
experience the same decline by 52.4% lot. When there is no tourist due to the
and 35.7% respectively (Hospitality Net, global travel ban, no hotels will have
2020) with job losses of 13.0 million. guests to fill their rooms. Consequently,
Like the other continents, Africa a lot of their employees must experience
also gets the impact of Covid-19 in the lay off or salary reductions.
hotel industry. On March 16, 2020, the
hotel occupancy in some regions such as CONCLUSION
Mauritius, Nairobi, and Marrakech
dropped by 70%, 80%, and 73% The findings of this study show
respectively (str, 2020b). In general, the that the spread of Covid-19 has greatly
rate of hotel occupancy in Africa is now affected the hotel industry all around the
below 30%. It happens because there is world, not only in Asia but also in the
a lockdown regulation that makes the other continents such as Europe, Africa,
hotel occupancy get the heavy blows. It America, and Australia. However, the
disadvantaged those countries for before continent that gets the most significant
the Covid-19, the hotel industry impact is Asia. Most Asian countries are
contributed 8% to the economy in Africa depending on their tourism industry,
(Statista, 2020). which directly affects their hotel
Moreover, in the United States, industry. With an average of 57.70% of
the level of hotel occupancy is slightly decline in hotel occupancy, as many as
above 40%. For example, in New York, 63.4 million employees in this industry
the number of hotel occupancy is only are losing their income, leading to a more
47.6%, Georgia 40.7%, and Florida knock-on effect on employability. To
44.0% (str, 2020c). Next, in Australia, minimize the negative impacts, some
especially in Darwin and Sydney, the measures be implemented. Giving
hotel occupancy dropped by 15% in promotion packages with adorable prices
February (The Sydney Morning Herald, can attract visitors to stay in the hotel.
2020), and for Queensland in April, the Promoting Flexi-rate can also increase
occupancy on hotels decreased by 13.8% hotel occupancy for visitors can flexibly
(Tourism and Events Queensland, 2020). change the date of booking to the other
Therefore, the average level of hotel day if there is an unpredictable moment
occupancy in Australia as the impact of like this pandemic. More importantly,
Covid-19 is below 15%. increasing hotel service in terms of
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