Copenhagen Offers Freebies to Tourists as Other European Cities Struggle Against Tourism : NPR

Tourists visit Nyhavn, the 17th-century waterfront, in Copenhagen, Denmark, in this 2021 file photo.

Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP via Getty Images

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Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP via Getty Images

Tourists visiting Copenhagen this summer could get a free kayak rental or cup of coffee if they make eco-friendly choices during their trip to the Danish capital.

The city announced earlier this month that it was launching a new initiative, called CopenPay, aimed at encouraging more sustainable behaviors among visitors, such as walking, cycling, taking public transportation and picking up trash.

“It’s about creating meaningful and memorable experiences that are enjoyable and environmentally friendly,” said Mikkel Aarø Hansen, CEO of Wonderful Copenhagen, the city’s tourism agency.

Arrive at the National Museum by bike or public transport and you will receive a free ice cream made with local rhubarb, strawberries and liquorice with the purchase of your ticket. Pick up trash in the BaneGaarden area for a free organic meal. GreenKayak will let you take a kayak for free if you pick up trash on the water and post it on social media.

Officials say participants can show train tickets or photos of themselves participating in these climate-friendly activities as proof, but they also noted that the program is “built on trust, just as Danish society is the most trusting in the world, according to PEW Research.”

The pilot program comes as residents in other parts of Europe decry — and in some cases confront — the crowds of tourists who flock to its historic cities and picturesque beaches each year, contributing to rapid development and higher costs for locals.

In Spain, protests have erupted in the Canary Islands in response to mass tourism, and demonstrators in Barcelona recently fired water pistols at shoppers. Venice this year limited tour groups to 25 people and imposed an entrance fee on some tourists, though critics said the pilot program targeting day-trippers had little effect on reducing crowds.

Copenhagen officials say they are not seeking to increase tourism, but rather to reduce the environmental impact tourism currently has on the city of more than 600,000 people.

Last year, Copenhagen attracted 12 million international overnight stays, according to the tourist board.

The pilot program will launch Monday with 24 participating institutions and run through Aug. 11. Officials hope it will become an annual program and expand beyond Copenhagen.