While many European cities are exploring innovative ways to manage the influx of visitors, the Danish capital, Copenhagen, has announced a new initiative through which the city will reward tourists who participate in climate-friendly activities.
As global tourism continues to grow, leading European tourist hubs such as Barcelona and Venice have started to take measures to tackle over-tourism, such as the introduction of entrance fees, visitor zones and tourist taxes.
However, Copenhagen takes a different approach, rewarding visitors who act responsibly.
The Danish capital’s tourism office said the city will reward tourists who participate in climate-friendly activities. “Copenhagen’s attractions reward climate-friendly actions,” the office said in a statement. It added: “All our choices have an environmental impact, so why not make conscious decisions that benefit us all and be rewarded for them?”
Introducing the pilot programme called “CopenPay”, which will run from 15 July to 11 August, the bureau said that rewards will be made through this app.
“Based on the evaluation, we hope to re-launch CopenPay as a year-round green payment experience in the economy and expand the concept to other parts of Denmark and the rest of the world. Earn rewards at Copenhagen’s attractions, from a free meal or cup of coffee to a kayak ride or even a free entrance to a museum. All you need to do is, for example, use a bicycle instead of a car, help preserve the city, work in an urban garden or commit to sustainable behaviour,” the statement said.
Giving clarification on the new app, the agency said the purpose of CopenPay is “to encourage sustainable behaviour and enrich the cultural experience of visitors and residents of Copenhagen by turning green actions into currency for cultural experiences.”
According to the announcement, the CopenPay campaign is only taking place in Copenhagen and is not aimed at increasing tourism.
“With CopenPay, we are giving people the opportunity to experience more of what Copenhagen has to offer, with less of a burden on our planet,” the agency said, citing Mikkel Aaro Hansen, managing director of Wonderful Copenhagen.
On how the app will work, the bureau noted that participating in it is a simple process.
“Tourists and residents can redeem rewards by showing receipts for green actions, such as train or bike tickets,” it said, adding: “These actions include cycling, participating in clean-up activities or volunteering on urban farms. Participants can provide train tickets or photos of themselves riding bicycles or participating in cleanup efforts.”
According to the Copenhagen Tourist Office, CopenPay encourages the use of cycling, public transport and participation in environmental activities that collectively reduce the city’s carbon emissions by promoting greener modes of transport and reducing waste.
