Buried and Sopot They have been targeted by a fresh initiative, which includes a pilot regulation on cash trading in popular tourist destinations. The plan involves the temporary introduction of zones where only electronic payments will be accepted, which already gives emergence to strong reactions among residents, entrepreneurs and financial marketplace experts.
What's the experiment?
According to the pilot's assumptions, the designated fragments of 2 popular towns – Sopotu and Zakopane – have by 3 months in the vacation season function as ‘cash-free zones’. This means that entrepreneurs operating in these areas will be required to accept electronic payments – by card, Blink or instant transfer.
According to sources, the experimentation aims at examining consumer behaviour under restricted conditions of access to cash, as well as an impact assessment for local companies and the state budget – especially in the context of restrictions on the grey zone and improving taxation recovery.
Official objective: to fight the grey zone
According to the representatives, the intent of introducing non-cash zones is increasing transparency of economical flows, peculiarly in sectors characterised by seasonality and a large share of cash. They indicate, among others:
- catering establishments,
- souvenir sales outlets,
- sports equipment rental,
- private parking lots.
According to the department, in the summertime season, up to 40% of transactions in tourist destinations take place outside the authoritative circuit, which means real losses to the state budget.
"We want to check whether the elimination of cash in circumstantial locations will actually reduce fraud and let a better sealing of the taxation system," explains the organiser.
Resistance of entrepreneurs and residents
Although the organizer assures that participation in the programme will voluntarymany entrepreneurs don't hide their concerns. The owners of tiny catering facilities, ice cream points, stalls or ski rental and bicycles alert that a crucial proportion of their customers inactive like cash payment – especially older people, children and abroad tourists from countries where non-cash transactions are not so common.
"We are not opposed to terminals, but to impose specified an work in the mediate of the season, without compensation for commission costs, is an effort on our grounds of operation" – says the owner of the household ice cream store in Zakopane.
There are besides legal doubts. any experts point out that forcing the withdrawal of cash may conflict with the provisions on the National Bank of PolandWhich emits cash as legal means of payment.
Digital exclusion problem
Programme critics besides point to the problem financial and technological exclusions. In Poland, despite the increasing popularity of electronic transactions, inactive approx. 4 million citizens do not usage online bankingand close 10% of households have no bank account – according to NBP data from late 2023.
For children, the aged and abroad tourists coming from developing countries, cash payment is the only possible form of settlement.
– The introduction of specified restrictions should be preceded by broad public consultation and analysis of social consequences," comments Dr. Marta Kozioł, economist at the University of Economics in Krakow.
An experimentation or the start of strategy changes?
Although representatives of the Ministry of Finance stress that the experimentation is purely a character Research and analytical, there is no shortage of opinion that it may be The beginning of a broader strategy to reduce the function of cash in the Polish economy. Work is already underway on the draft amendment of the Payment Services Act, which would give local authorities the chance to fixed demarcation of non-cash zones – which raises serious concerns for civilian society organisations and ombudsmen.
Reservations besides apply Union of Entrepreneurs and Employers, indicating a possible increase in payment costs and a simplification in economical freedom.
What's next?
Pilotage in Sopot and Zakopane is to decision July 1, 2025 And it will last until the end of September. After its completion, it is planned to print a study on the results of the analysis and to consult business and consumer organisations.
Until then, the subject will surely inspire emotion and may become one of the main points of public debate on the future of money in Poland. All the more so, as issues of financial sovereignty and civilian liberties are increasingly raised in political discourse.
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No more cash in tourist zones? An experimentation in Sopot and Zakopane is controversial
