Its capital Denmark it has several swimming areas, a ski slope above a power station, a thriving organic food scene, and a high-speed electrified transportation system. More than two-thirds of the city’s hotels have an ecological certificate.
Now, city officials want to build on this sustainable foundation and invite tourists to join Copenhagen’s green lifestyle.
A new pilot program, the “CopenPay”, reward actions such as cycling in the city, participating in cleaning projects or volunteering in green projects with various rewards and experiences, such as museum tours, kayak rentals, free coffee or even a meal with local delicacies.
nouns, green actions become money to enjoy cultural experiences in Copenhagen.
With many European cities in suffers from overtourism and actively introducing measures to limit the number of visitors is refreshing to see a city that focuses on attracting a different type of tourist that is more in line with the values of the local population.
As reported by local sites: “There is a need to change the way tourists think and encourage green choices. The data shows a great willingness, as 82% of tourists say they want to act sustainably, but Only 22% changed their behavior.
Mikkel Aarø-Hansen, CEO of Wonderful Copenhagen, the city’s tourism agency, said that Tourism must be transformed from an environmental burden to a force for positive change.
He said that an important step in that change is “to change the way we move in a destination, what we consume and how we interact with the locals.”
“The project is unlikely to lead to significant change on its own, as there is a large gap between visitors’ desires to act sustainably and their actual behavior. CopenPay is a small, experimental step towards creating a new way of thinking for travelers.”
How “CopenPay” works
The simplicity of the system also allows for easy integration: Tourists can show a train ticket, arrive by bicycle or show another simple proof of green action to redeem their rewards.
For example, visitors who arrive at the National Gallery of Denmark with plastic waste are invited to a workshop to turn it into a work of art. Similarly, commuting via public transport or cycling to Copenhagen’s iconic heating plant provides a unique experience skiing down its slope on the roof of the building.
This summer, all tourists are invited to join CopenPay, with regular updates on available attractions and rewards on copenpay.com.
Starting with more than 20 attractions, CopenPay aims not only to improve the local visitor experience, but also to encourage other destinations.
The pilot program will run throughout Copenhagen’s tourist season from July 15 to August 11.