Safeguarding child welfare: the
travel industry response

Tourism: exposure to issues
in context
• Who’s children?
Local children and children of holidaymakers
• Which issues?
Commercial exploitation (child labour, “begging”)
Sexual exploitation (child prostitution)
Physical exploitation (trafficking, slavery)
Domestic abuse
Abduction
• Where?
Global supply chain /differing cultural attitudes
Known “risk” destinations
Hotels and accommodations / destinations more broadly
“Risk” routes (e.g. Mexico Legislative developments)
“Risk” events (e.g. Olympics, Word Cup)

Pragmatic solutions

2. Raising awareness:
Every Child, Everywhere
E-learning training course to help travel businesses
develop and implement policies and processes that
best protect children
Safeguarding children in a holiday environment
Training course for travel providers to be able to use with their suppliers
e.g. hotel employees and accommodation businesses

3. Implementation
- Leading global certification system helping hotels and
accommodation businesses manage their social, environmental and
economic impacts
- Management of child protection issues is prerequisite for baseline
engagement and monitoring of social impacts
Sample indicators:
- 06.11: The business does not employ children to complete work
normally undertaken by adults and there are special working
times and conditions for children working within the business.
- 08.03: The business implements preventative measures and
procedures to ensure that children living in or near the premises
are protected from tourism related sexual exploitation and all
potential forms of abuse.

Final remarks
Tourism’s exposure to child exploitation is significant
Key role to play in tackling the issue
Focussing efforts across four pillars:
Industry positioning
Raising awareness
Implementation
Monitoring
Fostering partnerships with Governments and expert organisations is
fundamental to ensuring progress

Thank you