Destinia: Bitcoin-Paying Customers Spend More on Travel. #bitcoin

 Bitcoin-paying customers spend €16 ($18) more on average per transaction than those paying with credit cards, according to Spanish online travel agency Destinia.

This year, customers paying with bitcoin have spent an average of €377 ($477), in comparison to an average of €361 ($400) being spent by credit card paying consumers, according to a spokesperson for the company.

Despite receiving bitcoin payments on an almost daily basis, the spokesperson said there had been a slight decline in the number of transactions since integration in early 2014.

The Destinia spokesperson said it was difficult to determine the reasons behind this decrease, but cited greater industry competition – Expedia began accepting bitcoin for hotel bookings last summer – and the digital currency's price decline as possible factors.

"Despite all of this, we are delighted with the way in which this payment method [bitcoin] is performing and we foresee a lot of potential," the spokesperson said, adding:

"Last year bitcoin was mostly used for paying for hotel reservations, this year we have noted a significant increase in bitcoin payments for flight bookings ... currently, sales for both are pretty levelled."

Destinia's most active bitcoin customers, the spokesperson concluded, are in Spain, Germany, Argentina and Sweden.

Just yesterday, the online travel agency announced it now also accepts bitcoin for low-cost flights.

Coindesk.com