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Majority of Italians ‘disagree with touting ban’

A survey commissioned by eBay/StubHub-owned resale site Ticketbis found more than half of respondents believe they should have to the right to resell unwanted tickets

By IQ on 30 Jan 2017

Jon Uriarte, Ander Michelena, Ticketbis

L–R: Ticketbis co-founders Jon Uriarte and Ander Michelena


image © Ticketbis

Nearly two-thirds of Italians believe tickets purchased tickets are personal property over which they should have full control, according to new research commissioned by Ticketbis and released just days after the first No Secondary Ticketing conference in Milan.

A recent survey of Italian consumers, conducted by Apco Insight on behalf of the secondary ticket agency, found 63% believe the purchase of a ticket constitutes ownership – with more than half (51%) of respondents also saying they should have the right to resell unwanted tickets to any willing buyers.

The survey also revealed 26% of Italians have used secondary ticketing sites to buy tickets for sold-out events, with that number rising to 40% among 18–24-year-olds and 47% among 25–34s.

Italy late last year passed a bill outlawing the sale of tickets by anyone other than the event’s promoter and authorised resellers.

“We encourage policymakers to make every necessary step to correct regulation that will be harmful for Italian consumers”

Ticketbis co-founder and CEO Ander Michelena says the responses demonstrate the government was wrong to “hastily” outlaw ticket resale under pressure from media.

“As this research shows, the resale of tickets is a complex issue that needs to be understood in all its aspects,” he comments. “The legislation promoted by the Ministry of Culture was a hasty decision which will push the resale of tickets to the black market…

“We encourage policymakers to make every necessary step to correct regulation that will be harmful for Italian consumers while creating a climate of mistrust for start-ups and those working in the tech sector.”

Ticketbis was sold to StubHub last May.

 


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