Copenhagen offers incentives to tourists for environmentally friendly work

DENMARK:

The Danish capital’s tourism office said on Tuesday that the city will reward tourists who participate in climate-friendly work.

“Copenhagen attractions reward climate-friendly actions,” the office said in a statement.

“All of our choices have an environmental impact, so why not make conscious decisions that benefit us all and be rewarded for them?” it added.

Introducing the pilot project named ‘CopenPay’, which will be in effect from July 15 to August 11, the bureau said the reward will be done through this app.

He further stated: “Based on the evaluation, we hope to bring CopenPay back as a year-round green payment experience to the economy and expand the concept to other parts of Denmark and the rest of the world.” “Earn rewards at Copenhagen attractions ranging from a free meal or cup of coffee to a kayak tour or even a free entry to a museum,” the release said.

“All you need to do is, for example, ride a bike instead of driving, help preserve the city, work in an urban garden or commit to sustainable behavior,” he noted.

Explaining the new app, the office said: “The purpose of CopenPay is to encourage sustainable behavior and enrich the cultural experience of visitors and residents of Copenhagen by turning green actions into currency for cultural experiences.”

“The campaign for CopenPay only runs in Copenhagen and is not intended to increase tourism,” it said.

Read: Appeal to promote sustainable tourism

“With CopenPay, we enable people to experience more of what Copenhagen has to offer, while putting less of a burden on our planet,” Mikkel Aaro Hansen, CEO of Wonderful Copenhagen, was quoted as saying by the office.

“It’s about creating meaningful and memorable experiences that are enjoyable and environmentally responsible,” he said, according to the statement.

Regarding how the app will work, the office noted that participating in it is a simple act.

“Tourists and residents can redeem rewards by showing proof of green actions, such as train tickets or bicycles,” it said, adding: “These actions include cycling, participating in clean-up efforts or volunteering at urban farms.”

“Participants can show proof, such as train tickets or photos of themselves cycling or participating in clean-up efforts,” it said. “CopenPay is built on trust.”

“CopenPay encourages the use of bicycles, public transport and participation in environmental activities, which collectively reduce the city’s carbon emissions by promoting greener modes of transport and reducing waste,” he stressed.