Starting March 5th, 2018, the German National Tourist Board, headquartered in Frankfurt, is accepting payment in cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin for services, as a response to their interest in utilizing the blockchain technology supporting cryptocurrencies in the German and international markets.
Primarily financed by the German National Ministry of Economy & Technology, the GNTB serves to promote tourism within Germany, developing products and strategies to establish a positive image of the country. Worldwide, the organization includes thirty-two representative offices.
According to the chair of the GNTB, Petra Hedorfer, recent trends in technologies are constantly under review, as well as their application for the organization. Striving to be an innovative global company, driving the tourism industry, the choice was made to implement blockchain and cryptocurrencies as part of the Board’s digitization strategy.
Providing speed and additional security for transactions, the acceptance of cryptocurrencies (on their respective blockchains) may offer financial savings for international transactions, in addition to the transparency thereof.
Following the 500-year mark of the Reformation (recognized in 2017), upcoming events in Germany include the European Athletics Championships in Berlin this August, 100 years of the Bauhaus in 2019, and, in 2020, a 250th birthday of Ludwig van Beethoven.
How and Where Cryptocurrencies May Be Used in German Travel
History abounds throughout Germany, and Europe as a whole, making travel an education; paying for the experiences with recent advances in fintech is the (proverbial) cherry on top.
The Bavarian Neuschwanstein Castle is a fairytale in the making, begun in 1886, and not yet perfected by the time of King Ludwig II’s death in 1886. Greatly inspired by the music and characters of Richard Wagner’s operas, the castle was build as a private sanctuary from the public eye. It’s now home to nearly 1.5 million tourists each year.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000, due to its Benedictine Abby, Reichenau Island invites guests to the German border with Austria and Switzerland, on Lake Constance.
Meanwhile, Europa-Park provides a year-round modern break from the antiquity of the abundant castles, operating as the top theme park in Germany, the largest theme park among German-speaking countries.
The world’s first crypto-friendly airport in Australia, along with Japanese Peach Aviation’s plans to incorporate cryptocurrency payments throughout 2018, are proof that the GNTB is heading in the right direction, accepting Bitcoin (among other cryptocurrencies) as payment for travel/tourism-related services.
Featured image from Shutterstock.
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