For a long time now, Venezuela has been trying to get its people to use its native cryptocurrency, the oil-backed Petro. However, most people would rather use Bitcoin (BTC/USD), Dash (DASH/USD), or other major coins. After trying to fight the popularity of these cryptocurrencies for years, the country’s government seems to finally be giving up and giving in.
The most recent example of this is the fact that the country’s largest airport, known as Maiquetia, or Simon Bolivar International Airport, which has revealed plans to allow the purchase of airline tickets using digital assets.
A local news source reported that the airport will allow its customers to buy plane tickets with Bitcoin, Dash, and Petro. What’s more, according to the airport’s director, Freddy Borges, the country’s crypto watchdog — the Sunacrip — will coordinate the initiative itself.
Venezuela sees the surge of tourism
The apparent change of heart seems to have come from the fact that Venezuela has recently seen an increase in Russian and European tourists, who have been flying into some of the country’s biggest hotspots, seeking to pay with digital currencies. Borges argued that allowing them to pay with crypto could boost tourism in the country and inspire visitors to go to other parts of the South American nation.
As a result, the country’s economy would be able to start its recovery. Plus, going crypto would also increase the international standards for the airport itself.
As mentioned, Maiquetia International Airport is the country’s largest airport and the main gateway into the nation. However, it is interesting to see how the decentralized nature of digital assets is beginning to take over the dictatorship country. Obviously, this seems like a terrible combination at first glance, but somehow, that is not the case in Venezuela, and the initiative might just work.
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