Destinia decides to opperate exclusively in Bitcoins in Venezuela

The economic situation in Venezuela is ever more complicated. Given the increasing restrictions faced by Venezuelans, Destinia has decided to operate exclusively in Bitcoins in order to further facilitate reservations by local travelers.

With the rigid exchange control in place since 2003, the Venezuelan Bolivar has been steadily decreasing in value. And given this situation, according to local media, the Bitcoin has been gaining greater user support. The site Surbitcoin.com, which considers itself the top Bitcoin market in Venezuela, confirms that between August 2014 and November 2016 the number of users of the crypto currency went from 450 to 85,000.

“Venezuelans not only have many difficulties leaving the country, however also in paying with credit cards, as they can only do so in the local currency. Giving priority to Bitcoin as a payment method could be of help”, notes Victor Oliva, Head of the Transportation Department at Destinia. Since 2014, Destinia accepts the virtual currency for all products and services offered on the website.

Even though Venezuela is not a strategic market for Destinia, reservations to date in 2016 have grown by 34%. Among the most searched destinations for hotel bookings outside of the capital, Havana, Margarita Island, Madrid and Varadero are at the top. The most demanded flight routes are from Caracas to Madrid, Santiago de Chile, Cumana (Venezuela) and Mexico City.