After lots of crypto novelties and innovations, Australia steals the spotlight once more as its government invests in cryptocurrency tech to boost tourism in one of the country’s most popular states, Queensland. The announcement was published via Queensland Government’s website on August 1st.
The exciting plan also involves TravelbyBit, a new crypto payment platform, that will allow merchants to accept cryptocurrency as payment for all sorts of tourism-related services. Hoping to attract more and more tourists, the platform will allow anyone to pay for goods and services with Bitcoin, Litecoin, Dash, Ether, and XEM.
This is not the first time TravelbyBit has made headlines, as earlier this year the business collaborated with Brisbane Airport to allow various stores and restaurants within the terminal to fully accept cryptocurrency payments.
The state’s government has allegedly invested over $75,000 that should help TravelbyBit expand its reach to many merchants in the Queensland area, including the city of Bundaberg. The city is known for its tourism, as well as for its distilleries.
The funding is part of the state’s Advance Queensland Ignite Ideas, a government-backed initiative that aims to promote tourism by providing financial support for start-ups.
An exciting partnership between TravelbyBit and the Queensland government
TravelbyBit seems to have the backing of all the right people as Kate Jones, the state’s Minister of Innovation and Tourism Industry Development and Minister for the Commonwealth Games, has declared:
“TravelbyBit has devised a clever way to make it easier for visitors to our state to pay for their purchases with a growing number of local businesses accepting cryptocurrency payments. I understand TravelbyBit is specifically targeting places like Bundaberg – using cryptocurrency to make it easier for tourists to book holidays.”
TravelbyBit’s founder and CEO, Caleb Yeoh has also expressed his views on the matter: “With this next phase of technology, we are targeting a different brand of tourist – the tech-savvy traveler from anywhere in the world who are looking to book their travel experiences ahead of their trip and use digital currency to pay for their travels. They can now pay with Bitcoin, Litecoin, Dash, Ethereum, XEM and soon, BNB.”
He went on to further say that: “We have more than 150 merchants across Australia using our system and this funding, [which will help] to develop a purpose-built platform that will accept digital currencies from anywhere in the world, will allow us to add jobs not only directly to our team but also across the broader tourism industry.”
