Rooting Out Rome’s Racketeers
I wrote in July about the Japanese couple who went to the police in Rome after being charged nearly 700 euros (£600/$980) for a modest lunch.
Tourists can be ripped off anywhere, of course, but Rome seems to crop up regularly in complaints columns. It’s reassuring to hear, then, that Italy’s tourism minister, Michela Brambilla, has begun a campaign to try to stop the unscrupulous few getting away with sharp practices.
It seems it’s not only restaurants and bars that will come under scrutiny. Another Japanese tourist complained after being charged 20 euros (£18 /$30) for having his photo taken with one of the costumed centurions outside the Colosseum.
Incidentally, Ms Brambilla offered the restaurant couple, the Yamadas, a holiday in Rome at her ministry’s expense, which they politely declined.
The very reasonable Mr Yasuyuki Yamada said that spending taxpayers’ money in this way was not really fair on the Italian population, particularly as his vacation had not been at all bad. He would certainly think about for another holiday – but at his own expense.
by Andy Moreton
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Well worded and quite aptly written.
Comment by Nikola Todorovic — November 4, 2009 @ 1:32 pm