Italian Mafia Profits Billions Annually from Tourism Sector

A new study reveals organized crime earns €3.3 billion yearly through hotels, restaurants, and extortion, with revenues expected to rise during upcoming major events.

• The Italian Mafia generates an estimated €3.3 billion annually from the tourism industry, according to research by the Demoskopika Institute.
• The 'Ndrangheta, based in Calabria, accounts for nearly half of these revenues, followed by the Camorra, Cosa Nostra, and Apulian criminal groups.
• Tourism businesses in financial distress are particularly vulnerable, with over 7,000 companies identified as at risk of Mafia infiltration or control.
• Mafia operations include money laundering, extortion, and acquiring stakes in hotels and restaurants, often under the guise of financial assistance.
• Revenues from these illicit activities are projected to rise significantly during the Catholic Church's Holy Year and the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.

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