Copenhagen is rewarding visitors who make “conscious green choices” by giving them free meals, tickets to museums, guided tours, and other experiences over its summer high season.
More than 20 attractions in the Danish capital — including The National Museum, The National Gallery of Denmark, and a kayak rental organisation — are participating in a four-week pilot project that’ll end on August 11.
They’ve agreed to provide free entry to tourists who cycle, use public transport, participate in cleanup efforts, or volunteer at urban farms, among other activities that earn them “CopenPay” credits.
“By converting green actions into currency for cultural experiences, tourists are given a unique opportunity to explore Copenhagen in a way that benefits both the environment and the local community,” says Lord Mayor of Copenhagen Sophie Hæstorp Andersen.
Run by tourism agency Wonderful Copenhagen, the programme operates largely on a trust system. To participate, visitors can simply show a train ticket, arrive at an attraction on a bicycle, or present a photo of them engaged in a sustainable activity.
As an example, a tourist who takes public transport or a bike to Copenhagen’s iconic heating plant can ski for free down the slope on the building’s roof.
“With CopenPay, we’re empowering people to experience more of what Copenhagen offers while placing less burden on our planet,” says Mikkel Aarø-Hansen, CEO at Wonderful Copenhagen.
The bigger goal, according to Aarø-Hansen, is to encourage other cities to follow suit.
“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.
“Since travelling is international, our success is dependent on the choices of people and destinations elsewhere. We therefore also strive to inspire sustainable behaviours and cultural appreciation worldwide.”
Copenhagen is considered one of the world’s most sustainable cities, partly thanks to its deep cycling culture. As many as 62% of its citizens commute by bicycle, using the city’s 382 kilometres of dedicated cycling lanes.
