Claus Bødker shares why Denmark’s capital city is so popular with cruise visitors
By
Rebecca Gibson |
Why do cruise passengers love visiting Denmark’s capital?
The UN’s 2016 World Happiness Report found that Danes are the happiest nation. Our 2016 customer satisfaction surveys showed that Copenhagen’s residents have a hugely positive impact on the cruise guest experience. In fact, 80% of cruise visitors were either ‘very’ or ‘extremely’ satisfied with the friendliness of the locals.
Metropolis Magazine also voted Copenhagen the ‘most liveable’ city in the world in 2016. Certainly, Copenhagen is very relaxed city with several attractions, good food and great people. It’s also very easy to get around – including to and from the airport and the cruise pier. More than 50% of the residents cycle to work each day, so there are now more bicycles than cars in the city and plenty of bicycle paths for tourists to use.
What attractions do you highlight when marketing Copenhagen to cruise lines?
There’s plenty to see and do in Copenhagen, including well-known attractions like Tivoli Gardens, The Little Mermaid, Carlsberg Breweries and the royal palaces. Many tourists take a canal boat tour to see many of the sites. We also promote the many examples of the city’s modern architecture and its world-class gastronomy. The city has 16 restaurants with a combined total of 20 Michelin stars and Noma was named the world’s best restaurant for five consecutive years – a large number for a city of Copenhagen’s size.
How do you work with the cruise port and operators to showcase the destination?
The port, the airport, airlines, cruise operators, transportation companies, several attractions, hotels and restaurants are all members of CruiseCopenhagen. Established 25 years ago, CruiseCopenhagen is one of the world’s oldest local cruise networks and plays a key role in promoting the city to cruise lines, travel agents and cruise media. It also focuses on finding ways to improve the cruise guest experience in Copenhagen.
Do you have any initiatives underway to attract even more cruise passengers in future?
Cruise guests visiting Copenhagen, Denmark will be able to collect free maps and information from a new a tourist information point at the cruise port this year. Visitors will also be able to purchase the popular 12-hour Copenhagen Card for the first time. The card gives users free entry to a maximum of three attractions and free public transport.