President of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, has revealed that the country’s tourism sector has seen a significant increase of 95% since the adoption of bitcoin as an official means of payment. Bukele also criticized central banking institutions, including the Federal Reserve, for their policies that have eroded people’s savings. He believes that decentralized financial instruments will attract more individuals from the West.
In a recent interview, Bukele highlighted the benefits of adopting bitcoin as a legal tender in El Salvador. He stated that it has made the country more attractive to travelers, resulting in a significant boost in tourism. “We have increased tourism by 95%, and that’s in part because of bitcoin. There’s a lot of bitcoiners that want to go to the country that accepts bitcoin,” Bukele said.
The President also emphasized the importance of rebranding El Salvador as a country that is open to innovation and technology. “We get some rebranding. We get to be the country that is open to innovation, that is open to technology, that is open to new things,” he added.
Bukele’s comments come as El Salvador continues to embrace bitcoin as a legal tender. The country made history in September 2021 by becoming the first nation to adopt bitcoin as a legal currency. Since then, the government has been working to promote the use of bitcoin in everyday transactions, including paying for goods and services.
The move has been met with mixed reactions, with some experts warning of the risks associated with using a volatile cryptocurrency as a legal tender. However, Bukele remains optimistic about the future of bitcoin in El Salvador, stating that it has the potential to transform the country’s economy and bring financial inclusion to millions of people.
