Attractions and Ticketing

Recent Updates:

19 December 2024 | Louvre Museum, Paris: We are advised that slots for March and April will open on January 7th. The introduction of proposed new booking conditions has been postponed therefore current terms remain, including €70 fee for groups 7-25, with individual ticketing for groups of fewer than 7. More information here.

18 December 2024 | St Peter’s Basilica, Rome: From 14 January 2025 groups entering the Basilica can include a maximum of 15 participants. It won’t be mandatory to book in advance and there won’t be a skip the line ticket, but for groups that choose to pre-book there will be a dedicated entrance. More info available here.

3 December 2024 | Notre Dame, Paris: Group visits will be possible from 9 June 2025. Bookings will open in March 2025. More info are available on their official page.

19 November 2024 | Colosseum, Rome: Parco Archeologico del Colosseo (PAC) has published the new notice on how to apply to register as an accredited operator for 2025. Expressions of interest must be received no later than 12:00 (UTC+1) on 16 December 2024. See below all the updates available so far.

11 November 2024 | Pompei: on 8th November it was announced that Pompeii Archaeological Park will implement personalized tickets that include visitors’ names, along with a daily cap of 20,000 visitors. More info below.

15 October 2024 | Trevi Fountain, Rome: on 7th October it was announced that visitor access will be regulated by the end of December, with a possible entrance fee for non-Romans in 2025. More info below.

Access to attractions is fundamental to ETOA’s operators members, whether they produce multi-day tours often sold over a year in advance, or sell experiences bought via platforms when visitors are in destination. Cultural tourism is central to Europe’s economic success, providing necessary revenue to safeguard assets which attract visitors from around the world. Its long-term success is a strategic priority.

The online marketplace has transformed the business environment, but its impact is uneven. Some major attraction still lack APIs that allow live inventory to be shared with authorised B2B clients. Business rules vary, especially for groups, and there is insufficient transparency. The rise of nominative ticketing has added unwelcome complexity, mixing uneasily with data protection rules and platform regulation.

First-time visitors will often wish to visit the most famous attractions, but the organised travel industry is well-placed to encourage repeat visitors to explore other places, which aligns well with destination sustainability strategies. ETOA’s priorities are therefore to encourage good practice in distribution and capacity optimisation, and also to enable and support product development and diversification.

Product development and diversification

ETOA’s events provide an efficient opportunity for attractions and destinations to target international buyers looking for new product. As ‘must-see’ attractions become less practical as inclusions in multi-day programmes due to complexity and uncertainty about availability and ticketing, this opportunity is growing.

Product diversification is fundamental to tourism long-term economic and social sustainability. While visitor flow management tools using real-time data are available, they do not affect pre-booked inclusions in multi-day tours. The travel industry’s ability to influence where visitors go makes us an essential partner for destinations.

ETOA’s membership includes a range of attractions, destinations and platforms interested in getting new product to market, and enhancing visitor experience. Less well-known attractions with an appealing offer for cultural tourism that seeking to develop visitor flows throughout the year are encouraged to get in touch with us.

Addressing operational issues

Demand for Europe’s cultural tourism destinations continues to grow; operating conditions change. These may relate to coach access or other logistical constraints, but it is the business conditions imposed by attractions on B2B clients, together with lack of certainty of availability, that cause the most problems.

The impact is felt differently across various business models. Operators selling tours over a year in advance need to secure product otherwise they with have to find alternatives. Failing to meet expectations of clients who have paid in advance is highly problematic. Conversely, some operators first source product, then re-sell.

ETOA works in two ways to support its members. First, to argue for good practice in distribution. This entails transparency, appropriate use of technology, and proper recognition of bona fide operators of all types and sizes. Second, to provide insight to attractions and destinations about how the industry works.

Operational Information

Where a country is listed below, we currently feature content about recent developments or practical problems at one or more of its attractions. These may range from changes in business rules or capacity management to refunds policy, booking horizons and ticketing requirements.

While best efforts have been made to verify the accuracy of the information below, it should be used as guidance only. If you have updated information please contact operations@etoa.org.

France

Weekly closing days of cultural sites in Paris can be found here. Many museums in Paris offer free entrance on the first Sunday of each month.

Louvre

December 2024 | Louvre – group access 2025

On 19th December the Louvre advised that slots for March and April will open on January 7th. The introduction of new booking conditions for group access that were detailed in August (see below) has been postponed therefore current terms remain, including €70 fee for groups 7-25, with individual ticketing for groups of fewer than 7.

August 2024 | Louvre – group access 2025

The Louvre has published a newsletter detailing changes to group access from 2025. Of note: groups of 6 or fewer may use group entrance, and there will be a reservation fee of €20 payable. The fee for 7-25 will be €90. To see the newsletter, click here.

July 2024 | Louvre terms and conditions change

Following changes announced late June, buyers of group ticket who are not ‘key account holders’ have less flexibility. Only one modification can be done or refund requested, if done in advance according to procedure.

ETOA met with representatives of the museum on 15th July – and some joined as guests at an ETOA working group on 23rd July. Further to reduction of daily limit to 30,000, of which 6,000 are available to groups, supply has become more constrained. From the museum’s point of view, their priorities are to assure availability for all types of visitors, limit fraud, improve their channel management and utilisation. Changing dates and slots was proving too cumbersome, especially in high season.

The museum is reviewing its systems and policy: changes may be possible in 2025.

Italy

Colosseum - latest updates

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)

Availability

Every operator can request a maximum of 100.000 tickets per year.
Tickets are distributed also according to most requested time slots. For example, as weekends are more in demand, less availability will be granted. Check Attachment B for full details.

FAQ can be found here

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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. Only schools booking directly can use the B2C channel. Student groups are limited to a maximum of 30 people per group (in addition to a possible tour guide).
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 and guides

For Undergrounds, Arena, Elevator: 24+1 (24 pax + 1 guide)
For all other products: 25+1 (25 pax + 1 guide)
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.
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)

ETOA Impact Survey in June 2024: Colosseum Ticketing showed significant cost increase and reputational risk. For full results of the survey, click here.

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.

Trevi Fountain

The Trevi Fountain is undergoing maintenance until late December, during which a walkway will allow close-up views of the fountain’s sculptures. When it reopens, at the end of December, visitor access to the lower basin will be regulated, with a possible €2 entrance fee for non-Romans being considered for 2025. The aim is to improve the visitor experience by reducing overcrowding, with a maximum number of people allowed at a time.

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

Pompeii

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.