<p><span><span><span><strong><span lang="EN-US"><span><span>During Pandemic</span></span></span></strong></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span lang="EN-US"><span><span>The hospitality industry is one of the most impacted industries by the pandemic. Trading restrictions have unfairly harmed the hotel industry.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span lang="EN-US"><span><span>The economic crisis peaked in April with the economic output in the hospitality industry fell by 90% when compared with pre-pandemic levels. Even when people were allowed to dine in July, output remained down 44% from February.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span lang="EN-US"><span><span>In August, the sector was seen to recover, driven by Eat Out to Help Out, a government initiative that relaxed lockdown restrictions during the summer. As a result, the industry saw a growth of 71% this month compared to July. However, as opposed to February 2020, the output remained down 14% in August.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span lang="EN-US"><span><span>As a result of the new restrictions, output has significantly decreased since September. The sector's output was 67% lower in January 2021 than it was before the pandemic.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span lang="EN-US"><span><span>Employment was seen to be increasing from March 2011 to 2020 in this industry. The number of employees hit 2.53m in the first three months leading up to March 2020, a peak not seen since 1978. But, as the pandemic hit the country, the industry saw a loss of 147,000 employment from JAN-MAR 2020 to JUL-SEP 2020.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

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