High mountain Mobilities. An Ethnography on Seasonality in Val d’Aran Ski Resort
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56247/qua.417Keywords:
seasonal migration, working conditions, sense of belonging, ski industry, mountain areas, PyreneesAbstract
Val d’Aran is a valley in the Catalan Pyrenees that developed early on as tourist destination for mountain sports, particularly skiing. The process of touristification modified the traditional patterns of seasonal mobility linked to the agricultural and livestock economy. In a globalised world, the resort now attracts tourists, but also seasonal workers, who often seek alternative lifestyles. In this paper, we consider the ski industry as an economic activity that produces seasonal mobility and creates new belongings in a mountain area. Based on an ethnographic study, we analysed the profiles and migratory patterns of temporary workers in Val d’Aran, their working conditions, and finally, discuss how sense of belonging is produced and experienced within highly mobile lifestyles.
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