The pleasant climate in Pyrénées-Orientales attracts a lot of people to come and live there, particularly retired people. This growing aging population places a strain on services, with healthcare services particularly affected. The region benefits from Catalonia’s economic dynamism and shares its culture: one quarter of the population speaks Catalan, which facilitates contact and cooperation. Along with market gardening and fruit production on the plains of Roussillon, tourism is an economic mainstay in the region. Most tourists visit coastal resorts, but business in the mountain thermal spas and winter sports industry is also booming.