Human trafficking in hotels: an “invisible” threat for a vulnerable industry
本研究通过分析英国、芬兰和罗马尼亚三个欧洲国家的酒店行业，识别出人口贩子利用酒店进行性剥削和劳动剥削的宏观、中观和微观层面的脆弱性因素，并开发了一个评估框架帮助酒店自查风险。
Purpose This paper aims to identify and analyse the hotel sector’s vulnerabilities that human traffickers exploit to use hotels as conduits for trafficking in human beings (THB). Design/methodology/approach Using the Method for the Assessment of the Vulnerability of Sectors framework of sector vulnerability analysis, the study adopted a qualitative approach using environmental scanning and semi-structured key stakeholder interviews in three European countries: UK, Finland and Romania. Findings The study identifies the types of THB occurring within the industry and the specific macro-, meso- and micro-level factors that increase hotel vulnerability to trafficking for sexual exploitation, labour exploitation or both. Research limitations/implications Given the sensitivity of the topic, the number of interviewees is limited as is the generalisability of the findings. Practical implications The framework developed serves as a practical tool for independent or chain-affiliated hotels to use to assess their vulnerability to human trafficking for both sexual and labour exploitation. Social implications The framework will assist hotel professionals to assess their vulnerability to human trafficking and identify specific and proactive measures to combat this crime within their business. Originality/value This is the first study to empirically explore human trafficking in the hotel sector and to apply an integrated theoretical lens to examine macro-, meso- and micro-level sector vulnerabilities to a crime. It contributes to the authors’ understanding of why hotels are vulnerable to human trafficking for both sexual and labour exploitation.