The Danish capital, Copenhagen, has implemented CopenPay, an initiative that helps aims to reduce overtourism by rewarding tourists for their contributions.
This strategy designed by the city’s official tourist organisation, Wonderful Copenhagen, is already making a difference in the city which grapples with overconsumption as a result of tourism.
Copenhagen’s innovative approach to handling the situation is mitigating the negative effects of tourism as seen in cities such as Barcelona, Venice, Amsterdam and many others.
Some of the effects of mass tourism include large volumes of waste, overcrowding of urban spaces, noise pollution, excessive demands on infrastructure and higher prices for accommodation in urban areas amongst others.
While cities such as Lisbon, Venice and Barcelona grapple with ways to combat the effects of overtourism through measures such as increased visitor taxes, Copenhagen has invented a unique solution.
COPENPAY INITIATIVE: A WIN-WIN SOLUTION
Last year, the city launched this contribution-based solution for overtourism. Data shows that it is already having an impact, with Copenhagen projecting 24% tourism growth by 2030.
The thinking behind this initiative is to shift the visitor’s mindset from being a passive consumer to becoming an active participant.
And as we know, people visit places to see and experience something different. Tourists generally enjoy experiences when they are involved in co-creation of their experiences.
When tourists actively engage in experiences by participating in activities for which they will be rewarded, they are also likely to make a conscious effort to leave a lighter footprint on the destination they visit.
This initiative is a win-win situation which benefits tourists as well as the communities which they visit. There are gains for the environment, local communities and the economy.
Furthermore, this initiative helps to redistribute tourist flows and reduce pressure on overburdened places by chanelling tourist flows to areas where visitors will engage in their reward activities.
By participating in CopenPay, tourists can earn various activities which enhance their trip when visiting Copenhagen.
These include helping to maintain a community garden in return for a freshly made lunch. Or, free kayak rentals by collecting waste while going about their discoveries, amongst others.
