A new fee for Venice day trippers. A looming ban on vacation rentals in Barcelona. Restrictions on the sale of alcohol in Majorca. In the midst of European destinations imposing restrictions and fees on tourists, Copenhagen is taking a different approach by rewarding visitors who demonstrate responsible and climate-friendly travel behavior.
Starting July 15, tourists in Copenhagen can participate in the city’s green initiatives such as cycling, train travel, and clean-up efforts to earn rewards such as museum tours, kayak rentals, and free meals.
“We must turn tourism from being an environmental burden into a force for positive change,” said Mikkel Aarø-Hansen, the CEO of Wonderful Copenhagen. He emphasized the importance of changing how tourists move around, what they consume, and how they interact with locals to make tourism more sustainable.
Copenhagen’s initiative, CopenPay, aims to encourage sustainable actions by offering cultural experiences as rewards. For example, visitors arriving by bike or train at CopenHill can enjoy a free ride down the rooftop ski slope. Other opportunities include volunteering in clean-up efforts, creating art from plastic waste at the National Gallery of Denmark, and receiving a free lunch from the Copenhagen Surf School after participating in beach cleaning.
Over 20 attractions will be part of the pilot program during the summer to promote sustainable tourism practices. Mr. Hansen expressed the hope that the success of CopenPay will inspire other cities worldwide to incentivize eco-friendly tourism behavior, leading to a more sustainable future for all.
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