IT seems like almost every day we are faced with a new situation. Shaking hands has been replaced by a “fist-bump” between friends and a nod of the head when greeting a stranger. No one would now exchange beso-beso with someone. Suggesting a group hug now is unthinkable.
It is almost impossible to read someone else’s mood now that everyone’s face is covered with a mask. Eye contact with a stranger wearing a mask is a little weird and even sinister. Welcome to the new world order.
We are doing things now that would have been absolutely crazy a year ago. We came to expect that the department store cashier might check to see if our money was counterfeit. Now they might be spraying the bills with alcohol.
Who could have imagined a year ago that the time would come when you could sit comfortably in a jeepney—when they are allowed to operate—and not “butt-to-butt” even during rush hour? Thank you “social distancing.”
SM City Pampanga started a drive-in movie theater while its cinemas are closed. Another company is looking to make that a regular feature in Metro Manila. Max’s Restaurant and Army Navy Burger are both offering “eat in your car” services at many of their branches. Even fine dining restaurants have started home delivery of their menu items, an idea that would have been unheard of several months ago.
All of these are efforts for business to survive and at the same time to adapt to this new lifestyle in the new normal.
In 2019, global gross domestic product amounted to about $142 trillion. International tourism directly accounted for $2.9 trillion for that GDP and including domestic tourism, 11 percent of the global GDP was tourism related. For many countries, international tourism is vital. In Jamaica, 30 percent of all jobs depend on tourism. One-third of Iceland’s GDP comes from tourism. The Philippines is considered to have the most number of employees in the tourism industry.
Can we adjust or will this be a “permanent” situation at least in the foreseeable future?
Crude oil prices are now relatively stable after the 50 percent fall in January. Demand is expected to slowly recover over time. But the oil industry has been decimated, not unlike automobile manufacturing.
But there are more changes. With colleges shifting to online learning, students are not willing to pay normal tuition fees. Roughly 20 percent of Harvard University’s first-year students have deferred from attending this school year.
Reported at the end of July—90 percent of Philippine public school students have re-enrolled. But private schools have seen a dramatic drop in the number of re-enrollees. In 2019, private schools had 4 million students. Only 1.5 million enrolled for this year. Some 300,000 have transferred to public schools. With so few of their students returning, many private schools were forced to shut down.
How much of what we are going through will be a temporary adjustment and what will become a permanent change? That is not just a hypothetical question or an intellectual exercise. It is a serious matter. Remember when a cellphone or home Internet was considered an unnecessary luxury?