El Salvador claim bitcoin attracts tourists right or wrong?

[Franctoshi]

That could be truth that El Salvador Bitcoin adoption could be one of the factors that may cause the increasing number of tourist in their country though there is no much evidence suggesting or data  backing it up, However that could be possible in the sense people might likened to travel and spend some time in El Salvador in order to have that life experience of living in a country that runs their economy in Bitcoin. For instance I myself want to have that experience of living or spending some time in El Salvador due to my passion for Bitcoin which I think a lot of Bitcoin Enthusiast might equally desire and in that case could increase the the number of tourist coming in to visit the country.

[teosanru]

Recently El Salvador confirmed bitcoin magnets tourists to the nation. Claims bitcoin attracted 1.1 million visitors in 6 month was opposed by the wall street journal, saying most visitors never used bitcoin in the bitcoin beach and other stores that accepted bitcoin in the country. Given an example of a small bohemian hotel “Lagarza" owned by Daniel García, who confirmed only 15 bitcoin transaction since it became a legal tender in the country.

He went further saying that most visitors in the country paid with bitcoin to brag, though, it was made known in the article that, some vendors in El Salvador don't have a bitcoin wallet. And the country need to teach citizens how to transact with bitcoin to enable swift transaction.

What could have attracted cryptocurrency tourists to El Salvador if not bitcoin? So I think the wall street journal article covered a small part of El Salvador hotels.  

https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2022/07/06/el-salvador-bitcoin-beach/ (Proves visitors don't use bitcoin)


https://www.google.com/amp/s/cointelegraph.com/news/tourists-flock-to-el-salvador-despite-bitcoin-bear-market/amp (Proves traders use bitcoin)

I also don't think tourist have anything to do with using bitcoin or anything else, one reason I can think of is that El Salvador might have been popularised after this recent change and people might have come to know about it who might not have known about it earlier. I believe this has nothing to do with making crypto a legal tender for sure.

[KennyR]

In one of his tweet President Nayib Bukele described about the increase in the tourism revenue within the country. He also described about the market during the pandemic and the growth after the pandemic. For now the increase in the tourism towards El Salvador could've taken place for two reasons. One is for bitcoin being legal which attracts cryptocurrency users. Second is the natural beauty and the connectivity of the tourism locations with bitcoin.

[Yogee]

....
Maybe you skipped this;

Since El Salvador adopted Bitcoin as legal tender, thousands of Bitcoiners have made the trip.

I did not skip that part. I actually highlighted that when I said this,

Cointelegraph couldn't provide data that thousands of bitcoiners visited since the country adopted bitcoin.

There was no link to who said that so it's safe to say that the author of the cointelegraph article just made that assumption.

I also found a tweet that best suits everyone under the thread that said is not all about bitcoin. El Salvador President said so;

I found a better one,

News: President Nayib Bukele announced on twitter, El Salvador is one of the few countries that is recovering the tourism industry to pre-pandemic levels and that is international tourism and the reason behind that is #Bitcoin.

https://twitter.com/nayibbukele/status/1555962079957245952

So, I'll need different views on the question though everyone is skeptical if bitcoin is the reason why they is an increase in the number of tourists in the nation. I think the tweet above can reshape your views now, thanks.

We've already established that the President made such claim but are you just going to take his word? Where's the supporting data? What the President has presented is only the total tourists that visited the country. There's no breakdown how many visited there because of bitcoin. Maybe it helped increased but is the number that significant? Have you considered that he's just trying to connect it to bitcoin and hype it? I would be glad to see if bitcoiners contributed at least 5% or 10% to the 1.1 million.

[TelolettOm]

El Salvador is the first country that accepts Bitcoin as legal tender in the country. And at least, they have proved it.
Ad I also read the news about this several days ago about it as written in the article Tourists flock to El Salvador despite Bitcoin bear market
With this condition, this is a good sign for Bitcoin right? Although this si a bearish era, in fact, this doesn't make people stop loving Bitcoin. They are still very enthusiastic to come to that country and enjoy all things there because of the easiness of Bitcoin utility. Their travel organization has confirmed this and they are thankful for this.
Well, how if many more countries will be like this? Bitcoin adoption will be much more spreading, many people will be easily suing BTC everywhere without any strict regulation or boundaries.

[sheenshane]

There are no clear data to support their claim but the Tweet said, "mostly" which I think in general they noticed due to Bitcoin.
It's a perfect combination for Bitcoin to spend, from beaches, surfing, and of course, buying food and accommodation for the tourist will surely they will freely use Bitcoin as a payment.

Maybe there are some Bitcoin enthusiasts who go there and experience how to spend their Bitcoin in a country that totally Bitcoin is legal and accepted like a fiat.  It's good news if this is true, it could be other countries will do the same to increase their tourist income.

[Drawesome]

I have visited the country and it looks like they are working on becoming more secure and improving the infrastructures.
There is a long way to go, but I contributed by giving my sats to those accepting BTC.
There are still few places accepting bitcoin, a good way to find them is through the bitcoinbeach wallet map.

[GreatArkansas]

For sure most tourists there are aware of El Salvador using Bitcoin as legal tender, they want to experience a country that is using Bitcoin as legal tender.
For me, I can consider legalizing Bitcoin to their country attracts tourists for sure. One of the many dreams of Bitcoin maximalists or using Bitcoin is to experience a place where you can really use Bitcoin just a normal payment everywhere.

[hyudien]

What could have attracted cryptocurrency tourists to El Salvador if not bitcoin? So I think the wall street journal article covered a small part of El Salvador hotels.  

Just because of bitcoins? and is sure every tourist is interested? not too
El Salvador even before adopting Bitcoin has become one of the countries that have tourist destinations. As for Bitcoin there, it is not mandatory for tourists to make transactions because it will be very narrow if only visiting. Perhaps only a few percent after the rise of the country of El Salvador in the media as it is famous for adopting Bitcoin.

[Die_empty]

I my country I have to hide to carryout transactions with Bitcoin. I would definitely want to experience the freedom of using Bitcoin without restrictions. If I have the opportunity of choosing between visiting countries in South America, I would definitely choose El Salvador.Although basic amenities such as infrastructures and security must be put in place to make that country a tourist hub.   

[lizarder]

Recently El Salvador confirmed bitcoin magnets tourists to the nation. Claims bitcoin attracted 1.1 million visitors in 6 month was opposed by the wall street journal, saying most visitors never used bitcoin in the bitcoin beach and other stores that accepted bitcoin in the country. Given an example of a small bohemian hotel “Lagarza" owned by Daniel García, who confirmed only 15 bitcoin transaction since it became a legal tender in the country.

He went further saying that most visitors in the country paid with bitcoin to brag, though, it was made known in the article that, some vendors in El Salvador don't have a bitcoin wallet. And the country need to teach citizens how to transact with bitcoin to enable swift transaction.

What could have attracted cryptocurrency tourists to El Salvador if not bitcoin? So I think the wall street journal article covered a small part of El Salvador hotels.  

https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2022/07/06/el-salvador-bitcoin-beach/ (Proves visitors don't use bitcoin)


https://www.google.com/amp/s/cointelegraph.com/news/tourists-flock-to-el-salvador-despite-bitcoin-bear-market/amp (Proves traders use bitcoin)

This clearly shows that the understanding of people in that country has not been maximized regarding the use of bitcoin as a means of payment, when viewed from the content of the news you load, bitcoin is not fully understood by the people there.

Or it could be that they don't fully trust Bitcoin as a means of payment that makes it easy for them to transact, we can also conclude an illustration of the example in that country, the convenience offered by the developer concept also doesn't look optimal, I think this is also involved in matters of trust in the level of security and comfort in Bitcoin usage in the environment

[minairia3]

As no specific documents were released, only a statement from the president of El Salvador on twitter. That makes a lot of people skeptical.
From my perspective, there's also a bit of bitcoin relevance as El Salvador has emerged with claims of accepting bitcoin as legal tender, which may interest curious tourists.

If I have time or stay near El Salvador, I myself would not hesitate to visit their country once. Aside from visiting their hometown, as a bitcoin investor, it would be interesting to be able to use bitcoin to pay for most daily expenses with bitcoins without fiat. It was an experience that I thought would be great. Everyone should try, like how we live in a world with no fiat but only bitcoin. Isn't this what we've always wanted?

[Jatiluhung]

in fact is the number of tourists or tourists visiting el salvador to increase after the news about the adoption of bitcoin as a means of payment in el salvador was legalized.
so at first el salvador was not a famous country. but after the policies taken by el salvador regarding bitcoin payments. so from that moment el salvador became a country that was quite famous as the first country to legalize bitcoin as a means of payment in that country.

even i just found out there is a country called el salvador is after the news appeared.

so it's natural that tourists become more and more visiting el salvador. because el salvador became better known after his phenomenal policy was widely discussed in various media.

so the reason people go to el salvador as tourists is that they basically become curious about the country of el salvador itself. and maybe some of them want to try bitcoin as a means of payment. or there are visitors who are just curious about the hotly discussed country.


in fact EL SALVADOR is now FAMOUS. so that once more known it will certainly attract tourists to visit it. whether you know bitcoin or not. but the initial trigger was after the policy taken by el salvador regarding bitcoin as a means of payment.

and even i think el salvador will go down in the history books as the first country to legalize bitcoin as a means of payment.

[2stout]

Whether an overstatement or understatement, there is credence to this statement and some may say "proof".  However, this needs to be taken a step further to show this is true even when all dependencies are accounted for and taken out of the equation.  I believe Bitcoin helps but is the bigger attraction Bitcoin in and of itself or that crime is dramatically down as well?

[worle1bm]

There might be a boom in the tourism sector of El Salvador because of bitcoin being legal tender over there as people from across the globe wants to test this up like paying at street foods and big restaurants with just one scan and use of LN walllets.Frankly saying then btc has helped El Salvador recovered in many ways and making progress in economy section also as you see tourism boost foreign reserves of the country.

[noorman0]

But I doubt the use of bitcoin as a tourist initiative, so far I do not know the reality on the ground. I read this article, there was a merchant in the tourism area who never had a bank account. If it is assumed that some retail merchants do not have bank accounts and only use bitcoin as an electronic payment method, of course this growth cannot be called organic.
In addition, there is no stated percentage of tourists actually using bitcoin during their vacation there.

[Poker Player]

There might be a boom in the tourism sector of El Salvador because of bitcoin being legal tender over there as people from across the globe wants to test this up like paying at street foods and big restaurants with just one scan and use of LN walllets.Frankly saying then btc has helped El Salvador recovered in many ways and making progress in economy section also as you see tourism boost foreign reserves of the country.

I agree with this, and more so with restrictive legislations that force KYC to the extreme, such as the one in place in the European Union. It seems to me that if it ends up being approved the trips of Europeans to El Salvador are going to grow, for sightseeing, spending their Bitcoin while in the country and exchanging some Bitcoin for fiat.

[stompix]

Yes bitcoiners are great tourists as well. While many nations have banned Bitcoin and there are hefty taxes on Bitcoin earning. Such  nationals need a safe heaven. El Salvador has given them that option.

If Bitcoiners are great tourists, and if Salvador is such an attraction then why don't we have topics over topics on how users here have spent their vacation in Salvador? We have thousands of members and yet....nothing! Everyone is saying how great this is, how it will make millions in tourism income, and how bitcoins will spend thousands but when it comes to themselves it seems like holding coins and stashing them is way better.

The World Tourism Barometer report give El Salvador a 6% increase in tourism earnings over data from 2019. 2019 is used as a reference pre-pandemic reference base, thus this increase is seen as a sign of recovery. This other document from the UNWTO gives El Salvador a -1% decrease in tourism arrivals vs 2019 (see slide on page 15).

Bukele should be jealous of how Spain is doing:

More than twice as many tourists visited Spain in June than in the same month last year and they spent almost three times as much during their stay, National Statistics Institute data showed on Tuesday

Even a comparison with 2019 is not really making any sense since people haven't been able to go in and out of the country without a care in the world for two years now everyone is looking for a foreign trip, probably 2023 vs 2019 numbers will show if anything has really improved and it's not just a spike.

Frankly saying then btc has helped El Salvador recovered in many ways and making progress in economy section also as you see tourism boost foreign reserves of the country.

Progress in the economy? 10% budget deficit, 5 billion trade deficit?
 

[edgycorner]

The recent rise in tourism was due to relaxation in covid regulations and has nothing to do with bitcoin. Correlation isn't causation.

If you take a dump when the sun rises, are you going to credit your colon for the movement of celestial bodies in the solar system? This take about bitcoin propelling tourism is equally stupid.

There's one thing happening for certain tho: Money laundering. Buy BTC with your illicit funds, and run a fake hotel business in El Salvador to convert your BTC into clean USD at reduced tax  

Their dictator is all about bling and show, while its people suffer in poverty. FUCK BUKELE   AND FUCK HIM TWICE FOR REDUCING BITCOIN AS A DEVICE FOR HIS PROPAGANDA MACHINE

[Nrcewker]

Yes bitcoiners are great tourists as well. While many nations have banned Bitcoin and there are hefty taxes on Bitcoin earning. Such  nationals need a safe heaven. El Salvador has given them that option. If Swiss banks can be the fiat heaven El Salvador is Bitcoin heaven and will reap benifits for the same.
.

I too agree on this.
The main reason for which many people have paid a visit to the place is due to the adoption of Bitcoins.
As other countries cannot implement tax on Bitcoins and declaring it as an illegal source of income or asset, El Salvador has done immense job to handle these types of pressure.
Also El Salvador has great beaches and water bodies, so this might also attract more tourists to visit the place along with Bitcoins.