Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Tourism Livelihoods in Island Destinations: The Case of Cagbalete Island, Quezon, Philippines

Rural communities in island destinations that engage in tourism livelihoods are among those who were adversely affected by the travel restrictions and safety protocols imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Using the sustainable livelihoods approach (SLA), this chapter examines the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on an island tourism destination in the Philippines. This chapter describes the case of Cagbalete, an island destination off the coast of the municipality of Mauban, Quezon province, Philippines. Using a qualitative approach, this case study highlights the experiences of the island’s residents before and during the pandemic. To examine the sustainability of their livelihoods, the livelihood portfolio, capital assets, vulnerability context, response to shocks and stresses, and livelihood outcomes in Cagbalete were evaluated. Research findings showed that the prolonged isolation caused by the pandemic significantly affected the capital assets, livelihood strategies, and livelihood outcomes. The vulnerability of Cagbalete as an island destination and its residents’ lack of land tenure highly influenced the sustainability of livelihoods on the island. While tourism remains a preferred source of livelihood for the residents, it should be developed alongside other non-tourism activities such as agriculture and fisheries to become sustainable.