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Berlin Launches 'BerlinPay' Pilot That Rewards Tourists for Eco-Friendly Acts

Small rewards for litter picking aim to clean the Spree by steering visitor behavior.

Overview

  • BerlinPay has launched as a pilot that offers free tickets, meal discounts, and canoe tours in return for verified eco-friendly actions, with the trial running through June 14.
  • The opening phase targets the Spree river to improve water quality and promote cleaner water tourism across the city’s busy canals and lakes.
  • Participants enroll on the visitBerlin platform and pick from roughly 5,000 tasks such as litter picking, planting flowers, watering trees, or choosing a bike over a car.
  • About 40 museums, restaurants, and associations are providing rewards that include free museum entry, restaurant discounts, and guided activities on the water.
  • The program takes its cue from Copenhagen’s CopenPay, which drew large uptake and measurable behavior shifts, and Berlin officials say it could become an annual event if the pilot succeeds.