GetYourGuide: “We will appeal the decision by the Italian authorities in front of the Regional Administrative Court as we have always played by the rules imposed by CoopCulture and by Italian law."
Rome, Italy — April 8, 2025 — With regard to the fine announced today by the Italian regulatory authority (AGCM), GetYourGuide expresses strong disagreement with the authority’s conclusions. The fine is based on rules regarding unfair commercial practices which have not been violated by GetYourGuide. GetYourGuide reserves the right to appeal to the Regional Administrative Court (TAR) to protect its reputation and confirm the full legitimacy of its operations.
"We cooperated with complete transparency throughout the entire proceeding, providing the authority with all relevant information to clarify our role and how our platform operates. We believe the decision to be unfounded and far removed from the facts," stated Francesca de Falco, Country Manager of GetYourGuide. "We are confident that our work makes a positive contribution to the tourism sector and to the promotion of Italian cultural heritage. We have always played by the rules imposed by CoopCulture and by Italian law, and will defend the integrity of our operations, as well as the trust that millions of travelers and tourism operators place in GetYourGuide every day."
GetYourGuide, headquartered in Berlin, operates a digital platform that allows hundreds of third-party providers in Rome alone to offer travel experiences, guided tours, and tickets to major attractions — including the Colosseum Archaeological Park — to millions of travelers from around the world. The role of the GetYourGuide platform is, and remains, purely technical, automatic, and passive, with no interference in pricing decisions or in shaping third-party offerings.
GetYourGuide nor its affiliate GetYourGuide Tours & Tickets has ever used automated systems, so-called “BOTs”, for bulk ticket purchases. The purchase of tickets by GetYourGuide Tours & Tickets has always been carried out manually, by operators in person, through a dedicated digital channel provided by CoopCulture for business clients, separate from the channel accessible to the general public.
Furthermore, GetYourGuide emphasizes that, until the termination of the partnership at the end of June 2023, the subsidiary operated in full compliance with the contractual agreements with CoopCulture, the official distributor of the tickets. The sales methods applied were always transparent and in line with the conditions permitted by the concessionaire.
