Rewarding Thoughtful Tourists For Good Behavior Including Free Ice Cream
Destinations rewarding travelers for good behavior
During 2024, tourist numbers soared in all popular destinations, leading to overtourism and bad traveler behavior. However, strict and often drastic measures had to be introduced.Meanwhile, travelers blocking the way by taking a selfie in Portofino, Italy, or wheeling a suitcase in Dubrovnik rather than carrying it led to unpleasant fines. Moreover, drunk tourists in Amsterdam, the Netherlands sparked a new ad campaign, asking them to “Stay Away.”
However, in a world of bad behavior, some popular destinations in Europe are taking a different route. Instead of fines and arrests, they are introducing incentives for good traveler behavior.
Copenhagen, Denmark offers free ice cream and coffee
July and August of 2024, Copenhagen offered incentives to tourists for engaging in eco-friendly activities. This involved using public transport, riding a bike, or walking. Meanwhile, other eco-friendly behaviors by tourists included volunteering on an urban farm or picking up litter.
On presenting some form of proof of good behavior, travelers could use the CopenPay app to see a map to locate rewards and participating attractions. Among the rewards were ice cream, free coffee or glasses of wine, along with a kayak tour or discounted museum entry. As the campaign was so successful, officials say they hope to reintroduce the pilot scheme on a wider scale in 2025.
Travelers protect natural attractions in the Faroe Islands
Moreover, well-behaved travelers undertake maintenance work focusing on building or repairing hiking paths and placing signposts. The rewards for tourists are less tangible, but still significant, as visitors befriend locals, and contribute to conserving a natural treasure while meeting like-minded travelers.
Alpine ski resorts reward tourists who arrive by rail
In the case of Via Lattea, travelers arriving with Trenitalia, Italy’s state railway were gifted with 25 percent off daily, two-day and six-day ski passes in 2024. So far, neither resort has announced if the offers will be available during the winter season.
Low-carbon tourists in Normandy, France
The incentive dubbed “Tariff bas-carbone” (low carbon tariff) offered well-behaved tourists admission to more than 70 visitor attractions and cultural sites. For example, travelers arriving by train, bicycle or bus were gifted a discount of at least 10 percent off entry prices, on producing proof in the form of a photo of their bike, or a public transport ticket.
Basically, make sure to behave well on your next vacation in Europe! You might be rewarded.