For the fake tour guides, the Municipality of Catania is tightening regulations.

Watchword, "do not take advantage of tourists". New checks are indeed on the horizon: this time, the local police will focus on groups of visitors in areas where tourist buses stop and in cultural sites. Both those with free access, such as the Palazzo degli Elefanti, and those with admission fees, including non-municipal ones.

The reason? The verification of the accredited tour guide license for those who accompany the groups. The “crackdown” was decided yesterday by Carmelo Coppolino and Diego Peruga, respectively the local police commissioner and the commander of the same, during the meeting of the Cultural and Tourism Council Commission chaired by Erika Bonaccorsi (FdI).

“We have received several reports, and I immediately discussed it with Mayor Enrico Trantino – explained Bonaccorsi – regarding the phenomenon of people who improvise as tour guides, without qualifications and registration, who, upon request for a financial compensation, illegally practice the profession by accompanying groups of people. This is unfair competition against accredited individuals. It is a phenomenon that is already occurring and, during the high tourist season, could become uncontrollable.”

“The cases, when money is exchanged – specified Giovanni Magni (FdI) – must be immediately and formally reported to the competent authorities.” “It must also be verified whether they are “fake guides” – clarified Pier Maria Capuana (FI) – or legally established cultural associations present in the area that can meet and invite citizens not certainly to guided tours, but to moments of discussion about the history of the city.”

An egregious case in recent days concerns the association “Catania Historica” chaired by Donovan Condorelli, which has long been organizing free cultural walks open to members directly on site, targeted by members of the Tourist Guides association. “We operate legally – assured Condorelli to “La Sicilia” – and not for profit, therefore the offense of unfair competition does not apply.”

And looking closely at the access data from December 8 to January 6 at the Roman Amphitheater managed by the Municipality, 4,153, and at the Ancient Theatre of Via Vittorio Emanuele managed by the Archaeological Park, 8,710, it seems that the work to be done for tourism in the city is quite different.