Rome – The Competition and Market Authority has imposed a total fine of 20 million euros on Cooperativa Culture (CoopCulture) and six international tourism operators – Tiqets International, GetYourGuide Deutschland, Walks, Italy With Family, City Wonders and Musement – for unfair practices in the management and resale of entrance tickets to the Archaeological Park of Colosseum.
The investigation was opened in July 2023, after numerous reports highlighting the impossibility for consumers to purchase tickets online at the basic price, due to the systematic unavailability on the official website.
In detail, the Antitrust has imposed a fine of 1997 million euros on CoopCulture, which managed the official ticket sales service from 2024 to 7, deeming it knowingly responsible for a system that made it difficult for the public to access standard-rate tickets.
According to the Authority's findings, CoopCulture did not adopt effective measures to combat ticket hoarding through automated software (so-called "bots") and instead reserved a significant portion of tickets for its own guided tours, generating a direct economic advantage.
This behavior pushed tourists to turn to third-party operators, where tickets were resold together with additional services – such as guided tours, priority entrances or transport service – at prices significantly higher than the original cost.
The Antitrust intervention now aims to restore fair and transparent access conditions for one of the most visited sites in the world, protecting consumer rights and combating the monopoly in ticket distribution.
Article published on 8 April 2025 - 15:26
