Copenhagen rewards eco-friendly tourists with free activities

Copenhagen rewards eco-friendly tourists with free activities

By Ashmeeta Subra  August 29th, 2024

While many European cities are adding restrictions for tourists, Copenhagen is trying something new by rewarding them for engaging in eco-friendly behaviours.

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Data shows that on average, 81 per cent of consumers say they want to act sustainably, but only 22 per cent have changed their behaviour. Copenhagen’s new program, CopenPay, aims to make this easier by transforming eco-friendly actions into currency for local cultural experiences, encouraging tourists to adopt greener behaviours.  

Starting July 15, tourists who take part in eco-friendly activities will get free access to various cultural and recreational experiences under the new program. Those who use bikes or trains, or help with local clean-ups, can enjoy free museum tours and kayak rentals among other perks.  

For example, visitors who bike or take the train to CopenHill, an artificial ski slope on a waste-management centre, will get a free ride down the slope. The National Gallery of Denmark will host workshops where participants can turn plastic waste into art, and the Copenhagen Surf School will provide a free lunch to surfers who spend 30 minutes cleaning the beach after their surf session. More than 20 attractions are part of the program this summer. 

Tourists can redeem their rewards by showing their train ticket, arriving by bicycle or presenting other simple proof of their eco-friendly actions. 

“We must turn tourism from being an environmental burden into a force for positive change, and one important step in this transformation is to change how we move around on the destination, what we consume, and how we interact with the locals,” said Mikkel Aarø-Hansen, CEO of the Wonderful Copenhagen tourism organisation, in a press release. 

Copenhagen hopes that by showcasing the success of this program, it will eventually run year-round and inspire other cities to adopt similar initiatives. While the initiative encourages tourists to act more sustainably during their holidays, it should also inspire visitors to continue their eco-friendly practices back home, spreading pro-environmental actions in their own communities. 

Planet Ark does not take responsibility for the accuracy of the original information and encourages readers to check the references before using this information for their own purposes.  

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Ashmeeta Subra

With background in international relations and marketing communications, Ashmeeta is excited to use her skills to encourage positive environmental actions through Planet Ark. She believes that by taking small actions, we can help make a big difference and be good stewards of our planet. Outside of work, she loves spending time in nature and enjoying downtime at the beach.

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