Latest news with #AGCM
The Guardian
08-04-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Italy fines seven firms £17m for price fixing of tickets for Rome's Colosseum
An Italian ticketing company and six tour operators have been fined almost €20m (£17m) over illegal practices that made it difficult for regular visitors to access Rome's Colosseum at the standard cost, including using software bots to hoard tickets and sell them at higher prices. Italy's antitrust authority, AGCM, said the hoarding practice made it 'essentially impossible' to buy tickets for the Roman amphitheatre online. The Colosseum is among the most popular landmarks in the world. More than 12 million people visited it in 2024. AGCM said it had fined CoopCulture, which managed official ticket sales for the site between 1997 and 2024, €7m for 'knowingly contributing to the substantial and prolonged unavailability' of standard-priced tickets. 'On the one hand, CoopCulture failed to take adequate steps to counter automated ticket hoarding,' it said in a statement. 'On the other, it kept a sizeable share of tickets for bundled sales tied to its own educational tours, which generated considerable profits.' This meant customers were forced to turn to tour operators and online platforms which resold tickets at higher tickets, bundling them with additional services such as guided tours, pickups from hotels and priority access. The remainder of the fine was handed out to six tours operators based in Italy, Germany, the Netherlands and Ireland, which scooped up tickets in bulk using software bots and other tools, contributing to their rapid disappearance from CoopCulture's website. AGCM said: 'By doing so, the operators benefited from the constant unavailability of tickets, which left consumers seeking access to the Colosseum with no choice but to purchase them through these channels – often at much higher prices due to the bundling with additional services offered either directly or via other operators.' The authority did not say how much people ended up paying for entrance to the Colosseum as a result of the illegal practices. The website for the monument, which is operated by Italy's culture ministry, lists the basic ticket price for adults at €18. That gives tourists 20 minutes to explore the amphitheatre's main floor. A 'full experience' ticket costs €24 and gives visitors access to the wider Colosseum archaeological park, including the ruins of the Roman forum, imperial forums and Palatine hill. Sign up to This is Europe The most pressing stories and debates for Europeans – from identity to economics to the environment after newsletter promotion A visitor cap was imposed in 2019, limiting numbers to 3,000 at any given time. Among those visiting on Tuesday afternoon will be King Charles and Queen Camilla, who are on a four-day state visit to Italy.
The Independent
08-04-2025
- The Independent
Rome tourists being forced to buy more expensive tickets for Colosseum
Italy's competition authority has fined six ticketing agencies a total of €20 million for making it difficult for visitors to buy standard entry tickets to the Colosseum online. The largest fine, €7 million, was levied against the Cooperative Culture Society, which managed ticket sales for the ancient amphitheatre from 1997 to 2024. The authority, known as AGCM, stated that the society employed practices that forced tourists to purchase significantly more expensive tickets from platforms that bundled in extra services like guided tours or priority access. Six tour operators based in Italy, Germany, the Netherlands and Ireland were also fined for using bots and other automated systems to buy up large quantities of tickets, making them unavailable for individual tourists. The authority did not list the mark-ups, but the Archaeological Park of the Colosseum which is operated by the Italian Culture Ministry, lists the price for access to the ancient Roman arena at €18 for adults. For that price, visitors may spend 20 minutes on the Colosseum's main floor. The Colosseum director declined to comment on the fines, his office said. It said the Colosseum was Italy's most-visited monument in 2023, with over 12.3 million visitors. It comes as destinations the world-over crack down on overtourism and its associated problems. Post the Covid pandemic, the influx of millions of visitors to tourist-strewn towns has, in some cases, risen to levels above those seen in 2019. Too much tourism threatens to disrupt residents and natural ecosystems and contribute to transport pollution. Unesco has warned of potential damage to protected areas, and Fodor's ' No Travel List ' recommended reconsidering a visit to 'suffering cultural hotspots' with overstretched infrastructure, such as 'plastic apocalypse' Bali, Barcelona and Koh Samui, Thailand, in 2025.
The Independent
08-04-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Italian authority levies hefty fines against Roman Colosseum ticketing agencies
Italy's competition authority on Tuesday levied fines totaling 20 million euros ($22 million) against half a dozen ticketing agencies for practices that have made it " difficult for regular visitors to buy basic tickets online to visit the landmark Roman Colosseum. The Cooperative Culture Society, which managed ticket sales for the Colosseum from 1997 to 2024, received the largest portion of the overall fine with 7 million euros. The fine was for a series of practices that forced tourists to buy tickets at significantly higher prices from platforms that added services such a tour guides or line skipping, the authority also know as AGCM said in a statement. Six tour operators based in Italy, Germany, the Netherlands and Ireland were additionally fined for using bots and other automated systems to buy up large quantities of tickets, making them unavailable for individual tourists. The authority did not list the mark-ups, but the Archaeological Park of the Colosseum which is operated by the Italian Culture Ministry, lists the price for access to the ancient Roman arena at 18 euros for adults. For that price, visitors may spend 20 minutes on the Colosseum's main floor. The Colosseum director declined to comment on the fines, his office said. It said the Colosseum was Italy's most-visited monument in 2023, with over 12.3 million visitors.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Italian authority levies hefty fines against Roman Colosseum ticketing agencies
ROME (AP) — Italy's competition authority on Tuesday levied fines totaling 20 million euros ($22 million) against half a dozen ticketing agencies for practices that have made it " difficult for regular visitors to buy basic tickets online to visit the landmark Roman Colosseum. The Cooperative Culture Society, which managed ticket sales for the Colosseum from 1997 to 2024, received the largest portion of the overall fine with 7 million euros. The fine was for a series of practices that forced tourists to buy tickets at significantly higher prices from platforms that added services such a tour guides or line skipping, the authority also know as AGCM said in a statement. Six tour operators based in Italy, Germany, the Netherlands and Ireland were additionally fined for using bots and other automated systems to buy up large quantities of tickets, making them unavailable for individual tourists. The authority did not list the mark-ups, but the Archaeological Park of the Colosseum which is operated by the Italian Culture Ministry, lists the price for access to the ancient Roman arena at 18 euros for adults. For that price, visitors may spend 20 minutes on the Colosseum's main floor. The Colosseum was Italy's most-visited monument in 2023, with over 12.3 million visitors, the business daily il Sole 24 Ore reported.
Associated Press
08-04-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Italian authority levies hefty fines against Roman Colosseum ticketing agencies
ROME (AP) — Italy's competition authority on Tuesday levied fines totaling 20 million euros ($22 million) against half a dozen ticketing agencies for practices that have made it " difficult for regular visitors to buy basic tickets online to visit the landmark Roman Colosseum. The Cooperative Culture Society, which managed ticket sales for the Colosseum from 1997 to 2024, received the largest portion of the overall fine with 7 million euros. The fine was for a series of practices that forced tourists to buy tickets at significantly higher prices from platforms that added services such a tour guides or line skipping, the authority also know as AGCM said in a statement. Six tour operators based in Italy, Germany, the Netherlands and Ireland were additionally fined for using bots and other automated systems to buy up large quantities of tickets, making them unavailable for individual tourists. The authority did not list the mark-ups, but the Archaeological Park of the Colosseum which is operated by the Italian Culture Ministry, lists the price for access to the ancient Roman arena at 18 euros for adults. For that price, visitors may spend 20 minutes on the Colosseum's main floor. The Colosseum was Italy's most-visited monument in 2023, with over 12.3 million visitors, the business daily il Sole 24 Ore reported.
