Football games, concerts, theater performances: events have to be canceled everywhere in Germany because of the corona pandemic. The event agencies are therefore currently receiving many reclaims; Customers who have already bought a ticket for an event that is now going to be canceled will request their money back. The federal government has now discussed a possible solution.
Vouchers instead of ticket refunds
Instead of reimbursing all ticket prices for events, organizers should be allowed to issue vouchers. This is to prevent the organizers from experiencing liquidity bottlenecks.
The regulation covers all tickets for concerts, sporting events, readings or lectures that were purchased before March 8 – prerequisite: these must be valid until the end of 2021. If the voucher cannot be redeemed by then, the organizers should be obliged to refund the ticket price. The new regulation should also contain a hardship clause if the use of the voucher is not reasonable.
Numerous organizers had already offered their customers such voucher solutions. Minister of Culture Monika Grütters (58) is satisfied with the compromise, since it would protect the interests of organizers and visitors at the same time. "The prospect of a cultural experience is preserved just as the organizer is spared real hardship," said the CDU politician of the "Tagesschau".