Mitigating the Scale, Reach, and Impact of Human Trafficking at Major Events: a North American Perspective

Abstract

Human trafficking is a global problem with challenges for societies and those agencies tasked with the protection of the public. Much human trafficking is in the form of sex or labor trafficking with over 22,000 cases reported in the US alone in 2019. Although prevalent in many industries, the event industry is particularly vulnerable to human trafficking with tourism destinations and the major events they host prone to such activity. This exploratory study, underpinned by collaboration theory, adopts a qualitative approach by interviewing stakeholders in the US to identify the causes, scale, reach, and impact of human trafficking in the context of major events. The study then identifies those initiatives designed and implemented to help mitigate the occurrences of human trafficking activity and minimize the damage to individuals and negative reputation for those major events caught up in this modern-day criminality.