Italy’s tourism industry is a prime target for mafia and other criminal networks. This “infiltration” isn’t just symbolic but deeply financial, as studies show criminal organisations exploit Italy’s thriving tourism for vast economic gain.
The statistics paint a stark picture: the criminal networks, especially the ‘Ndrangheta, generate an estimated €3.3 billion annually from these activities.
Criminal Networks Profit from a Vulnerable Sector
According to research by Demoskopika, the ‘Ndrangheta alone accounts for about half of these earnings (€1.65 billion), with the Camorra contributing €950 million, and the Sicilian Mafia €400 million. Other organised crime groups from Puglia and Lucania add an estimated €300 million to the mix.
The mafia infiltrates multiple sectors linked to tourism, including hotels, restaurants, and travel agencies, exploiting businesses struggling with debt, liquidity crises, or economic uncertainty. Nearly 7,000 businesses are at the highest risk of being taken over or controlled by these groups. This is especially concerning, given that 14.2% of Italy’s over 48,000 tourism-related businesses face financial instability.
Raffaele Rio, president of Demoskopika, said:
“The tourism industry in Italy is under attack. Events like the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics and the 2025 Jubilee are fuelling appetites for infiltration by criminal organisations.”
A Multi-Regional Threat
The study identifies nine regions with the highest risk of mafia infiltration: Campania, Lombardy, Lazio, Puglia, Sicily, Liguria, Emilia-Romagna, Piemonte, and Calabria. Campania leads with the highest risk, driven by a mix of factors, including the sheer number of businesses confiscated due to mafia activity (67 hotels and restaurants were seized last year alone).
The mafia uses various methods to entrench itself into the sector:
- “Welfare criminale”, where struggling businesses are offered financial assistance, only to become pawns under mafia control.
- Acquisition of assets through debt manipulation or coercion.
- Exploitation of the economic vulnerability exacerbated by crises like the Covid-19 pandemic.
This isn’t just a localised problem. Organised crime groups use Italy’s most high-profile events, like the Olympics and national events, as opportunities to increase their economic power through “financial coercion and control.”
Areas Most at Risk
The distribution of these criminal networks isn’t uniform. The southern regions, especially Campania and Calabria, see the highest concentration of illicit profits, accounting for €1.1 billion of the €3.3 billion estimated by Demoskopika. Lombardy and Lazio also feature heavily in these figures, with organised crime capitalising on higher business density and key international connections.
Additionally, criminal activity directly impacts 14% of companies at risk of default within these areas. This equates to 6,870 vulnerable businesses, further amplifying concerns about the mafia’s ability to manipulate struggling enterprises for financial gain.
The Role of High-Profile Events
Large international events act as a catalyst for increased mafia infiltration. Events like the Olympics in Milan-Cortina (2026) and the 2025 Jubilee have attracted attention from organised crime networks aiming to capitalise on high investment projects and opportunities for laundering money.
A Call for Action
The situation calls for proactive, multi-level prevention strategies. Rio asserts:
“We need a stronger institutional response to prevent these criminal groups from exploiting financial fragility. This is no longer just an economic issue but a strategic fight for legality and sustainability.”
Currently, 307 hotels and restaurants have already been seized due to mafia infiltration. Criminal networks’ tactics, including money laundering and coercion, have made it clear that these issues aren’t isolated incidents but systemic threats to the entire tourism sector.
A recent anti-mafia probe uncovered a €250million VAT fraud in other industries. This shows the mafia is far from a fairytale in Italy, it is very much a modern-day horror story.
