The impact of distance learning on tourism and hospitality education during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Region VI, Western Visayas

This study investigates the impact of the shift from face-to-face to distance learning during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on tourism and hospitality education in colleges and universities in Region VI, Western Visayas. It compares the effects on academic performance and learning styles of students in different educational modes. The research employs a mixed-method approach, combining qualitative and quantitative descriptive methods, using mobile and electronic online surveys with 292 participants from tourism and hospitality courses in Region VI. The study examines how students coped with the sudden use of technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), and their readiness for this abrupt shift. The pandemic led to psychological effects on students' academic performance as the educational system transitioned from traditional in-person learning to utilizing hardware, software, and learning resources to maintain effective education. The results indicate that academic motivation was "Average," study skills were "Moderately Low," and academic stress was "Average" across higher education institutions. A hybrid model of education and digital learning emerged, widening educational gaps due to the sudden shift in classroom activities. The pandemic reshaped national education delivery, affecting millions of private and public education students due to institutional closures. Students relied on on-hand modules and online learning through flexible or blended learning approaches, significantly impacting tourism and hospitality education and different educational modalities.