Since October 1, technological platforms dedicated to transport services operating in Panama will no longer be able to collect cash from their customers, therefore, payments must be made electronically.
The Transit and Land Transportation Authority (ATTT) announced that since enough time has been allowed, no further extension will be established for cash payment related to Selective Transportation fares through Platforms based on Information and Communications Technology, explains an official statement.
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The document reviews that “… In a note sent to the Minister of Government, Carlos Romero, the director of the ATTT, Miguel Martínez, points out that having completed the 6-month extension established in Decree 47 of 2018, it was not possible to decree a new extension, since by virtue of the provisions of Executive Decree 331 of 2017, the maximum period of extension had been exhausted.
The Director of the ATTT considered that the time elapsed since the enactment of Decree 331 of 2017, that is, 23 months, has been enough time for ICT-based companies to have explored, found and implemented alternatives for electronic collection and payment to replace the cash payment.
Martínez pointed out that not having found alternatives for collection has generated a permanent confrontation with the transportation sector, specifically with those who provide selective passenger transportation services and special tourism services, who are subject to stricter regulations regarding the provision of such services, thereby becoming unfair dumping.”
For tourism restricting the use of cash is not really good. Many people like from China do not have the connectivity and cards that work in Panama. They should focus on improving banking systems and options that make it easier to accept other payments. Then the change starts to happen naturally. But tourism is the last sector that can easily change