A new scheme to promote sustainable tourism and protect the environment is in place at a national park in the United Kingdom, where all summer long, visitors can earn discounts for a range of green behaviours.
Exmoor National Park spans parts of Devon and Somerset in the southwest of England. It boasts sea cliffs, moorlands, streams, and deep valleys, which host rare temperate Atlantic Rainforest habitats. Park Authority (ENPA) data reports roughly 1.6 million tourism visits annually.
Now, “to reward users of the National Park for taking care of this special landscape,” the park has announced it is working with partners under Exmoor’s Good Tourism Plan and national “regenerative tourism” goals to “manage tourism in a way that benefits our communities, landscape, visitors, and businesses.”
The “Pay with Exmoor Care” scheme rewards visitors who undertake “simple positive actions that support the care of Exmoor.” Started on 1 July and ongoing until 30 September, the concept offers participants a 20% discount on eligible purchases at participating Exmoor National Park Centres.
To qualify, participants must complete at least one recognised “Exmoor Care” action during their visit and provide “reasonable evidence” of it (such as photos, app submissions, or social media posts) at the point of purchase. The 20% discount is valid for a single transaction and is non-cumulative and non-transferable, with no cash alternative
The park authority says it was inspired by Copenhagen’s “very successful” CopenPay scheme, and has developed a similar promotion “more suitable” for a rural National Park. The Exmoor edition sees visitors earning their 20% for either: a two-minute litter pick; recording three plant or animal species they’ve found in Exmoor on the iNaturalist app; sharing “love and appreciation for Exmoor National Park” on social media using the @ExmoorNP tag; or journeying to the park’s centres by bike or public transport instead of a car.
According to the National Park authority (ENPA), the scheme brings to life the ambitions of Exmoor’s Good Tourism Plan, “supporting tourism that is regenerative, productive and resilient, ensuring that visitors, businesses, communities and landscapes all benefit.”
Dan James, enterprise and communications manager for ENPA, said: “‘Pay with Exmoor Care’ is a simple but powerful idea – rewarding small positive actions with real benefits. These simple actions positively contribute to Exmoor’s natural environment and communities; they help turn care into a visible, shared currency that benefits visitors, businesses and the landscape alike.”
This year’s scheme is a pilot, but the park has already expressed the intention to expand the good deeds discount by involving other providers, organisations, and business partners in the future. Find out about other destinations that offer sustainability perks here.
