See all the latest updates below.

On 19th November 2024 Parco Archeologico del Colosseo has published the notice on how to apply to register as a trade buyer for 2025. You can find all the details in the attachments uploaded on their official website.

Requests must be received no later than 12:00 (UTC+1) on 16 December 2024.

In summary:

Each year, PAC will publish a new public notice to allow interested operators to register in the PAC Operators List and indicate the quantity of tickets desired on an annual basis (specifically, from January 1 to December 31) This will be referred to as the “First Accreditation Session”).

All operators registered in the PAC Operators List, in order to maintain their registration in subsequent years, must:
(i) declare that they still meet all the requirements outlined in Article 2 of the PAC notice;
(ii) update the submitted documentation;
(iii) indicate the quantity of Tickets desired on an annual basis, specifying the type and time slot;
(iv) submit a signed copy of the new Contract related to the following year.

PAC will also open a second accreditation session (from June 1 to June 30) through the publication of a specific notice, aimed at registering operators in the PAC Operators List (hereinafter referred to as the “Second Accreditation Session”).

Registration in the PAC Operators List through the Second Accreditation Session will allow the operator to compete for the allocation of residual Tickets not utilized by other operators. Operators registered through the Second Accreditation Session will not be permitted to indicate the quantity of Tickets desired on an annual basis (specifically, for the period from January 1 to December 31).

The tools available to accredited Partners will include:

• B2B Call Center
• Platform (Reserved B2B Portal – available by the end of January 25)
• API (libraries for integration by Partners to automate processes – available in June 25)

General rules

• Every operator can request a maximum of 100.000 tickets per year.
• Groups are allowed to purchase a maximum of 25 personalized tickets per transaction for the 24h Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, and Forum Pass Super ticket type, excluding a tour guide, through the online channel.
• For Full Experience Arena, 24h Only Arena, and Full Experience Underground Arena tickets, the limit is also 25 tickets per transaction, including a tour guide.
• Tour guides non-accredited with PAC are entitled to a free personalized ticket, which can only be booked online. This ticket is valid for three daily entries without time restrictions (in the form of three daily tickets)
• For access to the Colosseum’s Underground, Attic, and Arena floor, it will always be necessary to book a free guide ticket online, including for guides accredited with the PAC.
• EU and non-EU educational institutions are allowed to purchase tickets online, with a limit of 30 people per group (in addition to a possible tour guide). Educational institutions that wish to use agencies or tour operators must delegate them using the specific form available online in the “Schools” section.

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On 2^nd October 2024 ETOA representatives along with delegates from other travel associations met with representatives from Parco Archeologico del Colosseo (PAC) and MidaTicket, the distribution partner.

(Please note that ETOA will continue to work with PAC to get further details as soon as they become available).

• A new process for initial bulk booking requests will be implemented. Accredited operators will be able to request slots for all of 2025 by the end of the year. At this stage, only a booking fee per ticket will be charged, rather than the total ticket cost. Adjustments can be made at a later stage (please see below for information on the new B2B portal). Further details regarding ticket allocations, refunds, and other matters will be confirmed later.
• All partners will receive a monthly newsletter, beginning in October, containing detailed updates on booking processes as well as general news regarding products offered by Parco Archeologico
• There will a B2B portal containing all yearly allocation assigned by PAC based on the initial request and an algorithm that considers various factors (type of booking required – group or individuals – the requested date, etc). Operators can use the portal to complete purchases of allocated tickets, add participants names and print or save final tickets. A percentage of tickets (exact number TBD) can be increased directly from the portal. Payment can be made via credit card or bank transfer, or with a prepaid balance option from June 2025. The official ticket issued by PAC is the only one accepted and cannot be modified. The portal is expected to be operational by the end of November.
• Forum pass availability will be accessible through the portal enabling all partners to purchase tickets directly from the platform.
• Students groups – If operators are booking for a school group, whether European or international, they are required to complete a form confirming that they are making the booking on the school’s behalf. The form will be on the PAC website. Schools booking directly can use the B2C channel. Student groups are limited to a maximum of 30 participants.
• Starting October 7^th 2024 (for booking dates in November) it will also be possible to reserve free tickets (i.e. under 18s). These tickets will be verified at the entrance.
• It will be possible to change the guide name on the ticket by submitting a ‘delega’ on the day
• PAC continues to monitor irregular sales through other channels and will ban operators found to be involved in such activities

Summary of 2024 Meetings with Par.co:

Here you can find our latest understanding about the current situation.

In May 2024 a new provider MidaTicket started managing tickets for Parco Archeologico del Colosseo (part of the Ministry of Culture). Their contract is for 4 years. It was announced here: signed an agreement with a new ticketing system provider (CNS Servizi).

The main changes for operators are as follows:

• Operators are required to utilize the B2B channel, as the use of the B2C channel is not permitted.
• B2B availability is now c.35% for the Colosseum and 80% for the Arena24
• It is not possible to purchase group tickets on-site. There is a limit of 9 tickets allocated to direct individual visitors at any given time.
• A new booking process for operators has been implemented. There are two opportunities yearly to apply as a trade buyer
• Booking horizon: it should be confirmed that all B2B operators will have the right to book up to 1 year in advance, whereas B2C bookings will not
• Name on the tickets will remain compulsory:
  • B2C – name change allowed until 7 days before the visit
  • B2B – name change allowed until 3 days before the visit
• Capacity  increased 200 people per hour (2000 per day). Therefore total capacity is 3200 people per hour

System operation

• Please refer to materials online to review the regolamento – they address most common questions they receive: https://colosseo.it/bandi_e_concorsi/avviso-pubblico-manifestazione-interesse-albo-ufficiale-operatori-turistici-abilitati-parco-colosseo/

Business rules

• PAC is checking market offers which include Colosseum tickets:
  1. Those selling only tickets and skip-the-line will be blocked
  2. 200 email addresses have already been blocked on the B2C channel. IP addresses and credit cards will be monitored and blocked if connected with inappropriate use.

General Colosseum products available (ticket types)

Group size

1. For Undergrounds, Arena, Elevator: 24+1 (24 pax + 1 guide)
2. For all other products: 25+1 (25 pax + 1 guide)
3. Tickets for guides are free and can be bought at the ticket office or online on the B2C channel. Tickets for guides are and excluded from the allocation. Most guides already have the pass to enter the Colosseum.

February 2024

Following consultation with members, ETOA developed a Memorandum aggregating member concerns as basis for continue dialogue, indicating the likely adverse impact at reducing quota available to the travel trade.

Starting November 15, the Pompeii Archaeological Park will implement personalized tickets that include visitors’ names, along with a daily cap of 20,000 visitors organised into timed slots during the peak summer season.

This decision follows a record-breaking summer, where Pompeii saw more than 4 million visitors, including over 36,000 in a single day—one of the first Sundays with free admission.

In more detail, the new measures, effective from 15th November 2024, are as follows:

• A daily cap of 20,000 visitors
• Timed summer entry slots from April 1 to October 31, allowing:
  • 15,000 admissions from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (12,000 for “Pompei express” and 3,000 for “Pompei +”)
  • 5,000 admissions from 12:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. (3,000 for “Pompei express” and 2,000 for “Pompei +”)
• Introduction of name-based tickets

Tickets will be available both online and on-site. Personalized tickets will be required for all types of admissions (Pompei express, Pompei +, Pompei 3days, and individual sites) and will be issued upon presentation of a valid ID, both online and at ticket counters.

To facilitate entry procedures at the site, all Tour Operators accredited by the Pompeii Archaeological Park will be allowed to exchange vouchers for a cumulative ticket that will display only the name of the Tour Operator and the guide.

Non-accredited Tour Operators must present a list of group members at the ticket office. The cumulative ticket will display the name of the Agency or Tour Operator and the accompanying guide.

For other types of groups, such as families, at least one member of the group must present identification at the ticket office to collect the cumulative ticket. The ticket will show the name of the group member and the accompanying guide.

On free-entry Sundays, 5,000 tickets will be reserved at the ticket office for accredited Tour Operators.

ETOA will keep monitoring the situation and provide further updates on this page when they become available.