Despite digitalisation, people in Switzerland remain loyal to cash. A study by the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) shows that 69% of guests prefer to tip in coins or notes. This is true even if they pay by card or mobile phone.
For 27% of those surveyed, it is important that the amount is paid directly to the staff. “This need for control and transparency is particularly pronounced in a cashless context,” write the authors of the study. This is because many feared that cashless tips would not be distributed fairly.
However, the ratio to cash varies depending on the language region. For example, the proportion of cash tips in Ticino is 82%, while it is only 67% in German-speaking Switzerland. In addition, people in German-speaking Switzerland usually add 5% to 10% on top, whereas those in French-speaking Switzerland and Ticino tend to add 5%.
For the representative study, the ZHAW conducted an online survey on behalf of Bank Cler in April 2025 among 1,000 people aged 18-81 in the three major language regions of Switzerland.
Translated from German by DeepL/ts
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