Albanians are trying to buy half of Venice. Either in their own interest, or on behalf of others, or to launder dirty money, this is still unclear. But the growing demand of Albanians who want to buy hotels and restaurants in the historic center of Venice has attracted the attention of the local media.
Il Gazzetino wrote in an article that the competent authorities are investigating the increased demand of Albanians to buy hotels and restaurants in Venice. They want to understand whether behind the high demand for Albanians to buy are hidden capital investments of dubious origin or international recycling of money.
The alarm was conveyed to the Italian media by the Federation of Entrepreneurs. Its president Roberto Magliocco says, “Every day in Venice, bars, restaurants and hotels are closing, transforming its historic center. And this is only one page of the medal, the other page is that others, mainly Albanians, are trying to buy their businesses".
Lack of tourists, caused by the global pandemic, natural disasters such as floods that months ago seriously damaged the city, the suspension of cruise trips, high rents that have to pay from 9 thousand to 20 thousand euros per month, have led to economic hardship quite Venetian entrepreneurs.
After a long period of quarantine, many of them have put their businesses up for sale or have been contacted mainly by Albanians who offer themselves as potential buyers. The number of restaurants and hotels for sale in the historic city center has increased in recent months.
For restaurants, the most difficult area is the Marciana neighborhood, while for hotels the phenomenon has spread throughout the territory of Venice, including 5-star hotels.
Roberto Magliocco explains, “Do not even think that the buyers offered are Chinese or Russian. There are Albanians who especially want to buy in the hotel sector. It is not known if they do it for personal interest, or on behalf of someone else who does not want to appear. "The fact is that the competent authorities are investigating this fact to find out if there are capital investments of dubious origin or evidence of international recycling behind them."