Asia?s tourist spots brace for leaner times as coronavirus keeps Chinese visitors at home

“We haven’t decided what to do,” Jenessa Rubio said, with a shrug.The outbreak of the coronavirus — which has been detected in all of China’s neighbors, including Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia — has cast a pall over a regional tourism industry that has become increasingly reliant on China’s burgeoning middle class.The Chinese government has canceled all outbound group tours, while a sizable number of those traveling independently have canceled their plans.It’s an outcome that is complicated for China’s neighbors, and its impact is only just beginning to be felt.It’s not unusual to see Asian tourists wearing the kinds of masks more frequently associated with dental hygienists. Countries including Vietnam and Thailand have increased screening measures for arrivals into the country.Thailand’s Tourism Authority says it expects the number of Chinese tourists to fall from 9 million to 7 million this year because of the virus.The spread of the coronavirus has caused even countries that are politically amenable to China to impose restrictions.The Philippines, which welcomed almost 1.4 million Chinese tourists in the first nine months of last year alone and has set itself a target of 4 million Chinese tourists by 2022, has stopped granting visas upon arrival for Chinese nationals and refused entry to visitors from the city of Wuhan, where the virus began.But the Philippines president, Rodrigo Duterte, said there was no need to ban travelers from mainland China or to completely suspend flights between the two countries.Some hotel operators have, however, started taking matters into their own hands by turning away Chinese nationals.Lisa Almerida, a tour operator on the Philippines island of Coron, known for its beaches and diving, said she encountered a Chinese family with three children who were searching desperately for somewhere to stay after being turned away at several hotels.“We’re safe, but you can’t take away the fear,” Almerida said.