The Italian mafia earns approximately 3.3 billion euros annually from the tourism sector. This is based on research by the Demooskopika Institute. Many companies in the sector are in a precarious situation and are therefore easy targets for the mafia.
Financial problems would make them receptive to ‘offers of help’ from criminal groups, says Raffaele Rio, president of the Demooskopika Institute. According to their research, around 15 percent of businesses in the Italian tourism sector are vulnerable. That corresponds to more than 7,000 companies.
Anyone who accepts an ‘offer of help’ from the mafia is giving up control. There could even be a complete takeover. The mafia promises companies “financial survival, covers debts and secures liquidity, but at a very high price (…).” It is a “criminal welfare system” and a cycle of money laundering, usury and extortion that would also severely affect Italy’s legal economy.
Half of the turnover goes to a group
Half of the total illegal sales go to one group: the powerful Calabrian mafia ‘Ndrangheta. Behind them, according to the investigation team, are the Camorra, the Cosa Nostra and other criminal groups from the southern region of Apulia. About half of the 3.3 billion euros in annual income, for example from restaurants and hotels, comes from tourism in the north of the country.
It is expected that the mafia will make even more money from tourism in the next two years thanks to major events such as the Winter Olympics.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
