Tourism is one of Italy's leading industries. To ensure high standards and protect the consumer, Italian legislation, both national and local, defines the tourism professions and requires that firms and individual operators be licensed.

Tour guides, tour managers, and professional drivers must all be licensed to perform their services. They earn their licenses via examinations given by the Italian regions, provinces or cities.

On the job, tour guides, tour managers, and professional drivers, in Italy always carry their license with them, to be shown upon request to the authorities. Licensed professionals do not need to look over their shoulder to see whether the police are coming. Individuals performing the tourism professions without a license, in virtually whatever guise they use as a cover, are dodging the law.