Italian Antitrust Authority Imposes €20 Million Fine on Colosseum Ticketing Services
CoopCulture and several travel operators penalized for unfair ticketing practices
The Italian Antitrust Authority has imposed fines totaling nearly €20 million on CoopCulture and six tourist operators due to prolonged ticket availability issues for access to the Colosseum Archaeological Park.
The fines are a result of practices that hindered consumers’ ability to purchase tickets online, including the use of automated bots and other tools to monopolize ticket sales.
The investigation commenced in July 2023 after the Antitrust Authority collected evidence indicating that it was increasingly difficult for consumers to buy tickets online.
CoopCulture, which was responsible for the official ticket sales for the Colosseum from 1997 until 2024, received an administrative fine of €7 million for contributing knowingly to the significant and prolonged shortage of tickets at the standard price.
The Antitrust Authority concluded that CoopCulture failed to implement appropriate measures to counteract the hoarding of tickets by automated methods.
Additionally, the organization allocated a significant number of tickets to be sold in conjunction with its educational tours, thereby profiting economically.
This practice effectively forced consumers to purchase tickets via tour operators or platforms that bundled tickets with additional services, often at significantly higher prices.
Alongside CoopCulture, the six tourist operators—Tiqets International, GetYourGuide Deutschland, Walks, Italy With Family, City Wonders Limited, and Musement—also faced financial penalties.
These companies engaged in the purchase of tickets using bots and other automated methods, exacerbating the problem of ticket shortages at the base price on CoopCulture’s official website.
Consequently, consumers seeking to visit the Colosseum were compelled to acquire tickets through these operators at elevated prices, which included added services written into their offers.
The Antitrust Authority identified that the actions taken by CoopCulture constituted an unfair commercial practice in violation of Article 20, paragraph 2 of the Consumer Code.
Similarly, the actions of the tourist operators violated Articles 24 and 25 of the same code, and as of April 2, 2023, also violated Article 23, paragraph 1, bb-bis) of the Consumer Code.
The fines are a result of practices that hindered consumers’ ability to purchase tickets online, including the use of automated bots and other tools to monopolize ticket sales.
The investigation commenced in July 2023 after the Antitrust Authority collected evidence indicating that it was increasingly difficult for consumers to buy tickets online.
CoopCulture, which was responsible for the official ticket sales for the Colosseum from 1997 until 2024, received an administrative fine of €7 million for contributing knowingly to the significant and prolonged shortage of tickets at the standard price.
The Antitrust Authority concluded that CoopCulture failed to implement appropriate measures to counteract the hoarding of tickets by automated methods.
Additionally, the organization allocated a significant number of tickets to be sold in conjunction with its educational tours, thereby profiting economically.
This practice effectively forced consumers to purchase tickets via tour operators or platforms that bundled tickets with additional services, often at significantly higher prices.
Alongside CoopCulture, the six tourist operators—Tiqets International, GetYourGuide Deutschland, Walks, Italy With Family, City Wonders Limited, and Musement—also faced financial penalties.
These companies engaged in the purchase of tickets using bots and other automated methods, exacerbating the problem of ticket shortages at the base price on CoopCulture’s official website.
Consequently, consumers seeking to visit the Colosseum were compelled to acquire tickets through these operators at elevated prices, which included added services written into their offers.
The Antitrust Authority identified that the actions taken by CoopCulture constituted an unfair commercial practice in violation of Article 20, paragraph 2 of the Consumer Code.
Similarly, the actions of the tourist operators violated Articles 24 and 25 of the same code, and as of April 2, 2023, also violated Article 23, paragraph 1, bb-bis) of the Consumer Code.
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Translated by AI
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