Human Trafficking and the Tourism Industry

Although human trafficking has long been a tragic part of history, in recent years it has become an ever-growing problem globally, and in many cases facilitated a modern form of slavery. In the twenty-first century, human trafficking is not only intertwined with international drug cartels but also, although rarely mentioned, with the tourism industry.


Human Trafficking and the Tourism Industry uncovers the tragedy of human trafficking and the history of this phenomenon, confronting the dark side of the tourism industry. It fills the academic gap regarding the rarely mentioned interrelationship between the two, shining a light on how many people are trapped in a new form of indentured servitude. Peter Tarlow and Andrew Spencer analyze how outside forces such as the recent Covid pandemic impacted human trafficking and how well-established tourism practices such as tipping add to the dehumanization process. The book is aimed not only at academics and practitioners of tourism but also is meant to be a guide for government policy makers, law enforcement agencies and a wake-up call for members of the international tourism industry.


The Tourism Security-Safety and Post Conflict Destinations series provides an insightful guide for policy makers, specialists and social scientists interested in the future of tourism in a society where uncertainness, anxiety and fear prevail.