Italy was not entertained by a scam going on at the place where gladiators once fought.
What happened: The main ticket seller for the Roman Colosseum and six other tour operators were fined €20 million by Italy’s antitrust authority for scamming tourists trying to buy advance tickets to visit the country’s most popular landmark.
- The companies were accused of buying up tickets, sold at the base rate of €18, until there were virtually none left on the market. They would then resell these tickets to tourists at a higher price.
Big picture: As Italy’s tourism sector sets records, the country is working to protect tourists (and honest businesses) from scams. In January, the country introduced legislation to prevent fake reviews for tourist spots, which would require online reviewers to provide ID and proof they visited the place they’re reviewing.
- In December, the country banned self check-ins for short-term rentals in a move partly meant to protect visitors.
- And, in one eccentric case, the city of Bari started issuing stamps of authenticity for its famed “pasta grannies” after a scandal in which some bad nonnas were passing off store-bought pasta as homemade.
Why it matters: Italy was Canada’s most-visited overseas destination last summer, as Canadians racked up 318,600 combined visits. With that many Canucks going mambo Italiano — and Rome set to be particularly crowded this summer as the Vatican celebrates a Jubilee Year — these advances are a welcome development.—QH