Berlin pays tourists to pick up rubbish — should Spain follow the same model?

Berlin has launched a pilot tourism initiative that rewards visitors for environmentally friendly actions such as picking up litter, using public transport and taking part in local sustainability activities.

The scheme, known as BerlinPay, has been introduced by the city’s tourism organisation Visit Berlin together with the Berlin Senate Department for Economic Affairs, Energy and Public Enterprises. It is designed to promote responsible tourism around the city’s waterways and urban green spaces.

The programme is being rolled out as a summer pilot project running from May 14 to  June 14, and is linked to a broader strategy to manage environmental pressure in high-traffic tourist areas, particularly along the River Spree.

How the reward system works

Under the initiative, tourists and residents can take part in selected activities and receive benefits in return. These include vouchers, discounted experiences and free or reduced entry to cultural and leisure attractions.

Actions that may be rewarded include:

• Collecting litter in public areas
• Supporting local environmental or social projects
• Cycling instead of using cars
• Participating in guided clean-up or nature-based activities

The rewards are provided by around 40 partner organisations, including museums, restaurants, transport operators and tourism providers across Berlin. Participation is coordinated through the official Visit Berlin platform, where users can register and choose from thousands of listed activities linked to sustainability themes.

Focus on waterways and urban impact

City officials have placed particular emphasis on Berlin’s waterways, including the River Spree and surrounding lakes, which attract large numbers of visitors during the summer months.

According to the programme framework, the aim is not only to reduce litter but also to encourage more responsible use of shared public spaces. Authorities say tourism places a measurable strain on these environments, particularly during peak travel periods. BerlinPay is also designed to support what officials describe as a “responsible tourism model”, linking visitor activity with environmental awareness and local economic benefits.

Inspired by Copenhagen model

The scheme is based on CopenPay a similar initiative introduced in Copenhagen, where visitors are rewarded for sustainable behaviour such as travelling by train, cycling or participating in environmental activities. Berlin’s version expands the concept to include direct participation in urban environmental upkeep, with a stronger focus on litter collection and water-related conservation projects.

City organisers say the intention is to test whether incentives can encourage more active engagement from visitors, rather than relying solely on regulation or fines.

Should Spain adopt a similar approach or increase fines for littering tourists?

The Berlin model has prompted wider discussion about how tourist destinations manage environmental damage linked to high visitor numbers.

In Spain, where coastal cities such as Barcelona, Palma and Málaga face seasonal pressure from mass tourism, two approaches are often debated: incentive-based schemes like BerlinPay, or stricter enforcement through fines and penalties.

Incentives versus enforcement

Supporters of incentive-based systems argue that rewarding positive behaviour can be more effective than punishment alone. By offering tangible benefits, authorities may encourage tourists to actively participate in keeping destinations clean, rather than simply avoiding fines.

However, critics note that such schemes depend heavily on participation and funding, and may not deter those who are already indifferent to environmental rules.

The case for tougher fines

On the other hand, Spain already operates a system of fines for littering and environmental offences in many municipalities. Some local authorities have increased penalties in recent years to address issues such as street waste, beach pollution and illegal dumping.

Advocates of stricter enforcement argue that higher fines and more visible policing create a clearer deterrent effect, particularly in high-density tourist areas where behaviour can be harder to regulate through voluntary schemes alone.

Finding a balance

A growing number of European cities are now exploring hybrid approaches that combine both models: offering rewards for responsible behaviour while maintaining or increasing penalties for non-compliance. In Spain’s case, the effectiveness of either approach may depend on location. Urban centres with strong tourism infrastructure could potentially benefit from incentive schemes, while heavily visited coastal areas may continue to rely on fines as the primary deterrent.

For now, Berlin’s pilot will serve as a test case for whether reward-based tourism can meaningfully reduce littering and improve environmental behaviour in practice.