The German Hotel and Gastronomy Association Dehoga opposes mandatory provision of digital payment options in the gastronomy sector. Managing Director Ingrid Hartges criticizes the high fees for small transactions. Many businesses already offer cashless payments.
Ingrid Hartges, managing director of the German Hotel and Gastronomy Association (Dehoga), has rejected the demand for mandatory digital payments in the gastronomy sector. The state of Lower Saxony had previously called for such an obligation. Hartges pointed out that card payments are already commonplace in many establishments. A Mastercard survey showed that nearly 90 percent of businesses offer cashless payment methods.
Small transactions, common in gastronomy, pose particular problems. "With mandatory card payments, I see issues with small turnovers, for example, a scoop of ice cream, a beer, or coffee," Hartges told the Editorial Network Germany. The fees for each card transaction are disproportionately high for such amounts and would burden the viability of small providers.
The association emphasizes that the voluntary adoption of digital payments is already advanced, making a legal requirement unnecessary and burdensome. This stance highlights the challenges facing the gastronomy industry amid increasing digitalization.
