Greece is understood worldwide for its vacationer sights of idyllic seashores and a relaxed life-style. Earlier than the outbreak of the worldwide pandemic, the World Journey and Tourism Council mentioned that tourism generates over a fifth of Greece’s complete GDP.
This 12 months, the nation confronted a file variety of vacationers throughout its summer time season. In August alone, the nation recorded practically 1 million vacationer arrivals per week, in keeping with Greek Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias.
A ForwardKeys report on this 12 months’s summer time tourism revealed that Greece had six spots within the high ten ‘solar and seashore’ areas in Europe. These included the island locations of Mykonos, Thira (Santorini) and Heraklion (Crete) in addition to Thessaloniki. Athens, the nation’s capital, ranked third for “city” locations in Europe.
Within the 27 member states of the European Union, Greece ranks sixth when it comes to cryptocurrency ATMs, with 64 energetic for utilization. Over half of Greek crypto ATMs are shared between Athens and Thessaloniki.
Nonetheless, Bitcoin ATM operator BCash has strategically positioned a few of its ATMs within the nation’s stylish island locations of Mykonos, Santorini and Crete. Cointelegraph spoke to BCash CEO and co-founder Dimitrios Tsangalidis about how crypto is impacting the tourism season in Greece by or itself.
Though Mykonos and Santorini are essentially the most visited vacationer locations, in keeping with Tsangalidis, mainland ATMs have essentially the most site visitors – notably central Athens, the place the primary ATM was put in, and Thessaloniki.
Nonetheless, the co-founder famous that there’s a “very loyal cryptocurrency crowd” on Crete, the nation’s most populous island and a well-liked vacationer vacation spot.
“There’s a robust crypto group in Heraklion, Crete [which is] the placement of considered one of our ATMs.”
In Heraklion, the capital of Crete, native startup accelerator H2B Hub partnered with the Greek-speaking College of Nicosia to create and help an area blockchain group.
Each Athens and Thessaloniki have energetic, common conferences for the crypto and blockchain group.
Whereas tourism is boosting components of the Greek financial system, in keeping with Tsangalidis, it isn’t spilling over into the crypto scene. “Sadly, precisely the alternative is going on,” says Tsangalidis.
“Demand drops in the summertime months and within the high season. However we’re in the midst of the crypto winter that got here earlier this 12 months, so it is actually onerous to inform.”
Particularly in common site visitors, the decline may also be equated with trip journeys by locals.
Associated: Vacationers are flocking to El Salvador regardless of the Bitcoin bear market
Usually, Greece wants extra consciousness of cryptocurrencies and their use in on a regular basis life, Tsangalidis sums up.
“The impression on native tourism can solely be felt if there’s a basic acceptance of cryptocurrency in society.”
He provides that there’s presently little to no infrastructure or uptake by Greek firms and native governments. “If our authorities turns into crypto-friendly and firms are given the inexperienced gentle, adoption will observe.”
In Might this 12 months, the president of Greece’s nationwide tourism group, Angela Gerekou, mentioned the nation is presently finding out how blockchain know-how may carry safety and transparency to tourism.