‘Be A Sustainable Tourist, Enjoy Free Perks’ States Copenhagen

With around 15 million tourists visiting Denmark in 2023, the country is one of the most beloved vacationing spots in the world. Copenhagen, the capital, bears the heaviest burden in welcoming these tourists. However, to make the incoming visitors more respectful of the capital's ecosystem, the government of Copenhagen has launched a new initiative—CopenPay. 

What is CopenPay?

The city of Copenhagen has announced a new plan for tourists in the capital called CopenPay. The initiative will provide rewards like free kayak rentals and complimentary coffee to tourists in the area who make environmentally friendly choices while travelling the city, such as walking, biking, taking public transport, not littering, etc.

Under the scheme, if the tourist arrives at the National Museum by bike or public transport, they will be given a free ice cream when they purchase their ticket for the museum. Picking up litter at BaneGaarden will get the tourist a free organic meal, and if someone picks up trash near the water bodies and posts about it on social media to spread awareness, a free kayak ride will be offered to the tourist.

The scheme was launched on July 15, 2024, with 24 institutions in Copenhagen participating in it, and will run till August 11. Upon examining the results, it will be decided if the initiative should be extended to a year-round programme and beyond the capital or not.

Talking of the initiative, Mikkel Aarø-Hansen, CEO, Wonderful Copenhagen (the city’s tourism agency), stated, “It is about creating meaningful and memorable experiences that are enjoyable and environmentally responsible.”

The scheme, providing rewards for good behaviour, will encourage tourists to be mindful and keep their visiting city clean. The initiative comes as a way for Copenhagen to keep its tourists in line as many parts of Europe are facing rowdy tourists who have little to no reward for the place they visit and often leave it dirty.

Though some have questioned on social media if it is a quirky way of Copenhagen to invite more tourists, the city claims that it is rather a way for them to deal with the heavy environmental impact of tourism.