Eco-Friendly Adventures Await: Copenhagen Rewards Tourists for Sustainable Travel
Tourists in Copenhagen are incentivized with perks for adopting eco-friendly travel practices.
Copenhagen, Denmark's vivacious capital, is taking a leap towards sustainable tourism with the expanded "CopenPay" program. This innovative initiative is designed to motivate tourists to opt for eco-friendly travel choices, with a special emphasis on trains.
In the face of mounting climate crisis and overtourism, Copenhagen is doubling down on its efforts to green its travel sector. In a summer expansion, the "CopenPay" program will run for a longer period and offer more activities compared to its 2024 pilot. Wonderful Copenhagen, the city's tourism organization, announced the expanded program, which runs from June 17 to August 17 in 2025.
The extended program will emphasize train travelers, providing them with incentives such as free bike rentals, yoga classes, guided tours, or discounted entrance fees to top attractions upon arrival by train. Moreover, the campaign encourages tourists to extend their stays in the city, rather than rushing through it.
According to Søren Tegen Pedersen, CEO of Wonderful Copenhagen, the CopenPay program is redefining the tourism experience in Copenhagen by integrating sustainable actions. Instead of focusing on bringing in more tourists, the initiative aims to raise awareness and nudge travelers towards eco-friendly choices. The tourism sector significantly contributes to CO2 emissions, making it crucial to change the mindset of tourists.
New Features and Highlights
- Expanded Scope: The program now runs for nine weeks, featuring approximately 90 to 100 participating attractions, a substantial increase from last year's pilot.
- Rewards for Train Travel: To encourage lower-carbon transportation, train travelers will be showered with rewards such as free bike rentals, yoga classes, and guided tours.
- Iconic Attractions: Participating venues include renowned cultural sites such as the National Museum of Denmark, Kronborg Castle in Elsinore, and the National Gallery of Denmark.
- Unique Experiences: The program encompasses unique eco-experiences like GoBoat kayaking, visits to Copenhill (a ski slope on a waste-to-energy plant), urban gardens, and bike rentals through services like Donkey Republic.
- Reward Mechanism: Tourists earn "green currency" by adopting eco-friendly practices, like using public transport and collecting waste, and can redeem this currency for free or discounted experiences.
The ultimate goal of the CopenPay expansion is to shift the tourism mindset, promoting responsible travel instead of attracting more tourists blindly. The initiative aims to inspire visitors to make greener choices, reduce their carbon footprint, and contribute positively to Copenhagen during longer stays. Moreover, the program seeks to inspire both tourists and residents to embrace sustainability as a cornerstone of Copenhagen's tourism experience.
[1] Tourism Review[2] Denmark Travel Ideas[3] Copenhagen's Green Initiatives[4] The Guardian: Sustainable Travel in Copenhagen
- Under the revised community policy, Copenhagen's tourism sector is encouraging employment of professionals skilled in fields such as environmental-science, sustainable-living, and home-and-garden to promote eco-friendly practices and lifestyle.
- As part of the expanded employment policy, the tourism organization, Wonderful Copenhagen, has created new positions dedicated to researching and implementing science-based climate-change mitigation strategies, with a focus on travel and home-and-garden improvements.
- The employment policy also includes incentives for hiring train station staff who can provide information on eco-friendly transportation options, such as bike rentals and public transit, to tourists visiting Copenhagen.
- To further emphasize the importance of sustainable living, the community policy encourages tourist-oriented businesses to prioritize lifestyle choices that are eco-friendly and aligned with verified green certifications, like sustainable-living and home-and-garden standards.
