Downward angle icon Downward angle icon. Copenhagen, Denmark’s capital and most populous city, wants to reward climate-conscious tourists. Scott E. Barber/Getty Images Copenhagen is launching the CopenPay initiative to reward climate-conscious tourists. The month-long trial will offer incentives, such as free museum admission, for environmentally friendly behaviour, such as cycling. The aim is to reduce the environmental impact of tourism in the Danish capital.
Copenhagen may have found a way to get tourists to behave.
The Danish capital will launch an initiative this month to offer climate-conscious visitors perks such as free food, wine, kayaking tours and free museum entry.
Tourists and locals can be rewarded for environmentally conscious behaviour, such as reaching tourist sites by bicycle or picking up litter.
For example, people who travel by train or bike to a heating plant in Copenhagen can ski down the sloping roof.
Meanwhile, visitors who bring plastic waste to the National Gallery of Denmark can take part in a workshop to transform the waste into a work of art.
The city’s tourist board said that while such proof of green practices is welcome, the CopenPay scheme operates primarily on trust: Denmark has the highest levels of personal trust in the world, according to a Pew Research Center report.
Tourism generates huge revenue in Denmark. According to official Danish government statistics, the country will receive an estimated 15 million tourists in 2023. According to Statista, tourism revenue in 2021 was approximately 118.2 billion Danish kroner, or roughly $17.5 billion.
“CopenPay enables people to experience more of what Copenhagen has to offer while reducing the strain on the planet. Our aim is to create fun, environmentally conscious, meaningful and memorable experiences,” said Mikkel Aaro Hansen, CEO of Wonderful Copenhagen.
According to Copenhagen Tourist Board, the initiative is not aimed at attracting more tourists to the region, but at reducing tourism’s environmental impact.
The disclaimer comes in the wake of anti-tourist protests in Barcelona, where locals sprayed tourists with water pistols in an attempt to stop over-tourism in the country.
Other cities, such as Venice, have introduced daily tourist fees to discourage tourists from visiting on certain days.
The CopenPay scheme will be launched on a trial basis on July 15th and will run for one month.
