ROME — In a major blow to unethical tourism practices, Italy's antitrust watchdog has slapped seven companies with combined fines of nearly €20 million (S$29.5 million) for manipulating ticket access to the iconic Roman Colosseum, authorities announced this week.

The AGCM consumer protection agency revealed that CoopCulture, the official ticket vendor for the ancient amphitheater from 1997 through early 2024, received the heaviest penalty of €7 million. Investigators found the company failed to stop automated bulk purchases while reserving disproportionate ticket allocations for its own premium guided tours.

"This systematic misconduct created artificial scarcity," stated regulators, noting how standard €16 entry tickets would vanish within minutes online while expensive tour packages remained available at triple the price. The scheme reportedly forced over 7 million annual visitors toward pricier options throughout CoopCulture's 27-year contract.

The crackdown also targeted six international tour operators accused of deploying sophisticated bot networks:

• Tiqets International BV (Netherlands)

• GetYourGuide Deutschland GmbH (Germany)

• Walks LLC (United States)

• Italy With Family S.r.l. (Italy)

• City Wonders Limited (UK/Ireland)

• Musement S.p.A. (Italy)

"These companies weaponized technology against travelers," explained an AGCM spokesperson. Their automated systems allegedly scooped up hundreds of tickets per minute during sales windows before repackaging them with "VIP experiences" at up to €89 per person - over five times face value.

The investigation launched after unprecedented visitor complaints during summer 2023 when ordinary tourists reported seeing "sold out" messages within seconds of ticket releases while third-party sites immediately listed marked-up inventory.

"This landmark decision protects both our cultural heritage and visitors' rights," said Italy's culture minister, noting new blockchain-based ticketing systems will debut this autumn featuring strict purchase limits and bot-detection algorithms.

The fined companies have thirty days to appeal what officials describe as one of Europe's largest ever penalties for tourism market manipulation.