Filipino artist fears longer struggle as COVID variant stalls tourism pickup

Artists paint customized designs on t-shirts at a shop in Boracay Island, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Aklan province, Philippines, November 30, 2021. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez

BORACAY, Philippines (Reuters) - Struggling Filipino artist Alberto Nunez was looking for a change in fortunes this week, until news broke of a new COVID-19 variant, which scuppered government plans to loosen restrictions and dashed his hopes for a long-awaited boost in business.

The Philippines on Sunday backed out of a planned reopening to foreign tourists after 21 months of border restrictions, citing uncertainty over the risks posed by the new Omicron COVID-19 variant that has triggered global concern.