Rewarding Thoughtful Tourists For Good Behavior Including Free Ice Cream

As many destinations in Europe fight against overtourism, thoughtful tourists can enjoy free ice cream and other treats. While it may sound a tad condescending, rewards are gifted to tourists for using sustainable transport, picking up litter and volunteering on conservation projects. Meanwhile, the treats for good behavior include affordable ski passes and 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

In Copenhagen, Denmark, visitors were rewarded with free ice cream, coffee and more for eco-friendly behavior. For roughly one month, Denmark’s capital brought in CopenPay, a reward scheme for good traveler behavior.

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

Back in 2019, the Faroe Islands launched their “Closed for Maintenance” program to prove that tourism can be a force for good. Meanwhile, officials close popular tourist sites for a weekend. This gives access only to volunteers, AKA “voluntourists.”

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

Ski resorts like Morzine and Via Lattea rewarded guests who traveled there by train last winter with several discounts. In the case of Morzine, well-behaved travelers were offered 10 percent off of the lift pass and a 5 to 10 percent discount for lessons and equipment hire with selected partners. Another reward offered visitors 10 percent off a massage with Mobile Mountain Massage.

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

Meanwhile, travelers visiting Normandy could enjoy discounts on cultural attractions for acting as “low carbon” tourists. Spring last year saw the French region introducing incentives to encourage sustainable travel.

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.