The municipality of Níjar (Almería) can be defined as an area of geographic and social contrasts that have led to complex mobility and migration dynamics. In recent years, Níjar has experienced accelerated population growth due to its two main economic activities: tourism and intensive agriculture. The tourism sector, linked to the Cabo de Gata-Nijar Natural Park, has generated numerous temporary jobs (mostly performed by people born in the area and in European countries such as Romania). Tourism has led to an expensive housing market of (secondary) homes owned by people born in Spain and other EU countries (especially Germany and France). Instead, intensive agriculture employs a large number of temporary and permanent workers mainly from Africa. The increase in diverse populations has social and territorial consequences, including income inequality, lack of affordable housing, spatial segregation and the emergence of numerous shanty towns. However, in addition to these manifest migratory movements and effects, there are other less visible spatial dynamics, such as the unregistered abandonment of the local population. “Locals” move from the main agricultural centres of the municipality (San Isidro and Campohermoso) to the littoral areas or to an adjacent residential area of the capital of Almería (Retamar). Such undeclared residential shifts intensify social and spatial inequalities._x000D_
We present a qualitative study based on formal and informal interviews, ethnographic observations and visual data. Our aim is to analyse the interplay between different patterns of mobility and residential and social segregation in Níjar. We pay particular attention to the “locals”. We ask ourselves whether perceived threat in the use of public space and public resources (education and health care) could explain the observed “white flight”._x000D_

Beatriz González-Martín, Dominique Jolivet and Pablo Pumares
Universidad de Almería y Universidad de Amsterdam

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ID Abstract: 477