Paper short abstract:

The research paper is based in the city of Barcelona and explores the concepts of sedentarism and immobility within the context of migrant workers in tourism. Through participant observation and semi-structured interviews, the aim is to comprehend the conditions of informal labour practices.

Paper long abstract:

Tourism labor regimes have recently faced a renew critical analysis, as in times of polycrisis tourism companies have resorted to outsourcing, flexibilization, and the precariousness of working conditions to enhance profits, often at the expense of workers' rights. The informal economy, present across multiple productive sectors, has also made inroads into the tourism sector. The informalization of the workforce, a pivotal aspect of the tourism sector's functionality, especially in well-established tourist destinations and markets, has been accompanied by a elusive invisibilization.

The prevalence of informal work in tourism settings has further intensified, notably in sectors such as short-term rentals, property brokering, housekeeping, tourist guiding, riders' platforms, and urban mobility services. Concurrently, there has been a surge in informal street vendors peddling tourist-oriented goods and informal tourism brokers actively seeking business for restaurants, hotels, and tours by approaching visitors directly on the streets. Notably, a significant proportion of these roles is undertaken by temporary migrant workers who view tourism as an accessible entry point with minimal professionalization requirements.

This research, situated in the city of Barcelona, employs participant observation and semi-structured interviews with informal workers to unravel the intricacies of informal tourism economies. The study aims to comprehend the underlying dynamics contributing to such precarious conditions, and the structural factors necessitating such informal labor practices. Additionally, the discussion delves into the concepts of sedentarism and immobility, exploring how such debate might help the comprehension of the informal labor landscape within the context of tourism in Barcelona.