Precarious work and tourism labour regimes: Insights from Benidorm

Abstract

Benidorm referred to as ‘the Mediterranean Manhattan’ due to its distinctive vertical urbanism is often regarded as an exemplary case of mass tourism. This paper critically examines the labour regime underpinning Benidorm’s tourism-driven economy, exploring the working conditions and the intergenerational schisms and differential lived experiences of work. Despite providing year-round jobs, Benidorm faces issues like informal economies and demographic shifts, including an ageing population and limited workforce renewal. Semi-structured interviews with Baby Boomers and Generation Z highlight generational tensions. Older residents appreciate past tourism benefits but worry about the future, while younger generations, despite higher education, face precarious jobs and limited career prospects. This disillusionment is exacerbated by COVID-19’s impact on labour conditions and a lack of trust in institutions, prompting many young residents to consider leaving. The study highlights the need to rethink labour frameworks and emphasises intergenerational tensions in the labour market as a lens for examining the temporal transformations of Benidorm’s tourism labour regime within its evolving political economy.