Sales in El Zonte, the beach town known as the birthplace of Bitcoin adoption in El Salvador, have increased by 30% thanks to the use of Bitcoin, Tourism Minister Morena Valdez said.
“El Zonte is a beach where everyone uses Bitcoin,” Valdez stated during an interview on Frente a Frente. The town was the first in the country to adopt Bitcoin in 2019 through a donor initiative that gave rise to the now-famous Bitcoin Beach project.
According to Valdez, Bitcoin use has benefited hotel and restaurant owners, as well as small local vendors who sell shaved ice or run small shops. She noted that unlike surfers, who visit the area mainly for its waves, “Bitcoiners are digital; they stay in hotels working on their computers, and that’s something we are consolidating as a destination.”
The minister added that Bitcoin-friendly projects have now expanded beyond El Zonte to places like Berlín in Usulután, as well as Santa Ana and Chalatenango.
Valdez also announced that the “Bitcoin Histórico” event will take place at the National Palace in San Salvador on November 12 and 13, bringing together Bitcoin enthusiasts and entrepreneurs. Ticket prices range from $21 to $2,100.
The Bitcoin Office shared on social media that the American restaurant chain Steak’n Shake will bring its “famous and delicious fries” to Plaza Gerardo Barrios during the two-day event.