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The Danish capital has decided to seduce its visitors this summer by promising them free visits and activities in exchange for good deeds that all have in common that they are ecological.
Collecting plastic waste to make a work of art at the National Gallery of Denmark, choosing public transport or cycling to get a free ski trip on the roof of a thermal power plant, taking a kayak ride after cleaning the canal… This summer, ecological actions will have an exchange value for visitors who have chosen to have a good time in the Danish capital.
Copenhagen has just launched an experiment that aims to encourage tourists to contribute to the effort to preserve the environment. “Our main mission is to make travel sustainable. And we will only succeed if we can bridge the gap between visitors’ desire to act sustainably and their actual behavior. […] “We want visitors to make conscious, environmentally friendly choices and hopefully have even better experiences during their visit,” explains Mikkel Aarø-Hansen, head of Wonderful Copenhagen, the city’s tourist office behind this original operation.
The approach was titled Copenpay and will take effect from July 15. It will run until August 11. All you need to do is show a train ticket or other proof of participation in an ecological action to get a free deal. This could be anything from a free guided tour of a museum to a free vegetarian lunch made with local products. More than twenty free attractions are already included in the operation.
While Copenpay hopes to inspire other destinations to embrace the system and further drive change in tourist behavior, the principle of a currency is well known in the tourism industry. Home exchange is known for providing free vacation accommodation, but also “woofing.” In this case, vacationers benefit from a countryside experience by getting a free bed and board in exchange for a few hours of work on the farm. You can also pay less for your train ticket in France if you agree to take a child on board, thanks to the Kydigo app.
And just recently, the city of Florence promised to pay those who prefer cycling to driving, but this only applies to locals or long-term residents such as students.
Slideshow: Teach your children to preserve the environment while having fun