From Dubai to Lisbon: The Rise of Crypto-Friendly Travel

The adoption of cryptocurrencies in tourism is rapidly expanding globally, with concrete examples across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas. Cities like Dubai, Singapore, Busan, Lisbon, and Buenos Aires are implementing solutions that allow tourists to pay for services using Bitcoin and stablecoins, including hotels, restaurants, and travel agencies.

In Dubai, hotels such as Palazzo Versace and Radisson Blu accept payments via Binance Pay and Crypto.com Pay, while authorities are reducing VAT on crypto-paid services. In Singapore, regulators are testing smart contract-based payments using regulated stablecoins in the Marina Bay area.

In Europe, cities like Ljubljana and Lugano allow Bitcoin payments for public services and accommodations, while France is testing an NFC wallet system. In El Salvador, Bitcoin is officially accepted, including for tourist visa applications.

Major hotel chains such as Radisson, Accor, Hilton, and Pestana now accept crypto payments. Booking platforms like Travala, Bitcoin.Travel, and XcelTrip enable direct payments using digital assets. This marks the emergence of a global crypto-friendly tourism ecosystem supported by regulation, infrastructure, and institutional adoption.