Askos Tours I

 There is a story doing the rounds about Askos Tours in Pompeii. It concerns a digital tour operator based in Ukraine that partnered with Askos earlier this year. It will take some believing, and the nuts and bolts are quite shocking, so read on...

 The digital tour operator in Ukraine built a Pompeii tours website in wartime to survive, to help friends survive, many of whom were and likely still are in trenches and under fire, as this video of WWI in 2023 illustrates. They also do In Lviv Tours, a remarkable and unique project that helps injured, disabled and traumatized veterans become tour guides.

 Askos Tours nets well over 3m euros annual with a staff of at least 20. Larger than life boss Emiliano Tufano has gone on record many times to bleat about his agency being "small" and in opposition to mass tourism. This is a lie. He schedules as many tours as possible every god-given day. His tours epitomize every ill of mass tourism, indeed, Askos tours have become the de facto McDonalds tours of Pompeii and Herculaneum, there are no two ways about it. Askos Tours does not need money, Emiliano et al are under no pressure, and they roll around in pesos 24/7.

 So what is the connection with said digital Pompeii tours operator in Ukraine?

 It is managed by an individual who designs and markets bespoke travel websites. He has a great deal of experience and is more or less a figurehead in Italian digital tourism. He gets respect and gives respect without questions. That is, until he chose Askos to supply some tours on the ground in Pompeii

 The grapevine reports that he sent about 40 bookings to Askos. In turn, their staff as one barked that payments in advance is mandatory. No terms, no flexibility, **** you, **** Ukraine.

 Let's get down to the nitty gritty, nasty side of Askos Tours. The latest news is that Askos backed down once, providing a strict 24 hour payment window for €42. Wait... €42 and they move €3m annual? Yes, you read that right. Is this an example of the tourism-fascism thing? No doubt.

 Before we out Paolo Vitiello, little round guy with glasses who counts the Askos cash and thinks that his own personal problems outweigh those of Ukraine, lets have a quick reality check.

 We have in our possession a copy of a communication between the Ukraine-based operator and Vitiello. He falsely claims that Askos Tours pays guides in advance. He also wrote, "Of course we understand your situation and wish you the best and we can't even imagine the awful situation you find yourself, however, with all due respect, you can also understand that our collaboration...". Say again? He is in a W. A. R., not sitting at a desk in Pompeii counting cash with a glass of wine on his desk. Vitiello continued, "all supplies of future services and reservations will be suspended" and "we need to continue with the usual prepayments and by card in advance (also because we imagine that in organizing the tour/trip you also collect the customers payment in advance)". No Sir, he is paid month following. Another employee, Luca, further damaged the reputation of Askos Tours by writing, "Concerning the method of payment for now and for all 2023 this is our only way and policy as prepayment." It appears that incredibly selfish, pig-greedy, pro-Russian sentiments are alive and well at Via Duca d'Aosta, 133, 80045 Pompei NA, Italy.

 It's also worth noting again that Askos Tours is the founding father of Pompeii tour operators that offer zero commission for partners that send them business. Their B2B price the same as to the public.

 So there you have it, the lowdown on Askos Tours, or a lowdown, as we're sure this particular grapevine will keep on giving.

 Part II will shed light on another story about a holiday in Italy when entrance to Pompeii and Herculaneum was free for everyone (April 25th, 2023 to be precise), but Askos Tours decided to charge their clients full price for tickets anyway...