Latest news with #CooperativeCultureSociety
Fox News
10-04-2025
- Fox News
Tourists ripped off at popular landmark by 'impossible' ticketing schemes attract investigation
Many travelers who visit Rome, Italy, find themselves at one of the most iconic architectural marvels in the world: the Colosseum. And now tourists visiting the famed Colosseum may have an easier time of it, as Italian authorities have concluded a crackdown on ticketing policies that made it more difficult for visitors to access the landmark. The Italian Competition Authority found that agencies were exploiting tourists by using practices that made it harder for regular visitors to buy basic online tickets, according to The Associated Press (AP). The Colosseum was Italy's most-visited landmark, attracting over 12 million travelers in 2023 alone, according to AP. "The investigation was launched in July 2023, after the Authority gathered information indicating that the online purchase of tickets to access the Colosseum Archaeological Park was essentially impossible," the organization said in a press release. The fines against companies totaled $22 million, with the Cooperative Culture Society agency receiving the largest portion at nearly $8 million, AP reported. The group was nabbed for selling tickets that came bundled with tour-guide offers or line-skipping abilities — which forced tourists to buy tickets at significantly higher prices. Authorities said the group "failed to take adequate steps to counter automated ticket hoarding … It [also] kept a sizable share of tickets for bundled sales tied to its own educational tours, which generated considerable profits." The Cooperative Culture Society managed ticket purchases to the Colosseum from 1997 to 2024. Approximately six million Americans traveled to Italy in 2023, according to the State Department. Built between 72 and 80 AD, the Colosseum is considered a testament to the architectural and engineering skills of the Roman Empire. It was originally known as the Flavian Amphitheater, according to the location's website. The building has a surface area of six acres.
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.
