Service Sector Expansion, Transportation, and Tourism Trends
The Expansion of Services
The service sector, also known as the tertiary sector, is rapidly growing. It offers services to the population and businesses. Territories are undergoing a process of ‘tertiarization’ of their economy. This means the majority of the population in those countries work in this sector. In countries with higher incomes, such as the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, 70% of the population works in services, exceeding three-quarters in some. This indicates a post-industrial society with an advanced industrial base. In other, less developed countries, especially in Latin America, tertiarization is intense, and urbanization is rapid. The poorest countries have an economy primarily based on agriculture.
Causes of Growth in Services
- Increased revenue and improved quality of life: This leads to increasing demand for all types of services, including financial and cultural.
- Welfare state: When the population has access to public health and education services.
- Search for greater competitiveness: Companies seek to improve their performance or quality through design or marketing.
- Development of financial capital: The liberalization of the market leads to more enterprises, banks, etc.
Transportation Developments
- Pre-industrial era: Exchanges were few and short-distance due to rudimentary transportation systems, such as carts and sailing vessels.
- First Industrial Revolution: The appearance of the railroad and the steamboat.
- Second Industrial Revolution: Brought about cars and airplanes.
- Third Industrial Revolution: Improved transportation and transfer of information (e.g., the internet).
Transportation Systems Currently
- Rail transport: Dominated the 19th and 20th centuries. Its current successors, like high-speed rail (AVE or TGV), are still relevant.
- Road transport: Passengers (cars and buses) and freight (trucks) are increasingly moving to road networks, which are becoming more extensive and secure.
- Maritime transport: Specialized in the transport of goods over long distances.
- Air transport: Airplanes are specialized in the carriage of passengers over long distances, thanks to technological improvements.
- Intermodal transport: When various transport modes function in a coordinated and joint manner.
Evolution and Current Importance of Tourism
Tourism involves seasonal travelers enjoying leisure activities.
- Historical precedent: Early travelers and explorers, or the success of beach resorts, etc.
- Mass tourism: Generalized as a result of cultural and socioeconomic changes in developed countries.
Levers for Tourism Development
- Increasing the standard of living in developed countries, leading to more leisure time and retirement.
- Improved transport and communications: Reducing the cost and time of travel.
- Expansion of accommodation offers: Large companies dedicated to travel.
- Natural heritage: Climate, historical monuments, pleasant cities, beaches, etc.
- Good communication with tourist source countries.
- Competitive prices, in terms of value for money.
- Security and political stability: No feeling of risk and no attacks.
Landscapes of Tourism
Mass Tourism in Coastal Areas
One of the most traditional and important forms of tourism, based on sun and sand. It occurs in subtropical areas or archipelagos. It also leads to permanent homes for people who have a house there, so the population density in coastal areas is high. This also causes negative impacts, such as pollution.
Mountain Tourism
Two types:
- Climbing and hiking: Have a long tradition and produce intense occupation in European mountain ranges, North America, etc.
- Ski resorts: Concentrate their activity in winter, and their centers are in high and cold areas where it usually snows.
Various Forms of Urban Tourism
- Business Visits and Meetings: Involve short-term, work-related travel, often including leisure activities.
- Expos: Focus on cultural and recreational activities in designated areas, attracting millions of visitors, such as the Olympic Games.
- Tourism in Historic Cities: Cities with historical heritage, cityscape (e.g., a city), religious landscape (e.g., Santiago de Compostela, Jerusalem, Mecca), or a combination of the above (e.g., Rome).
- Theme Parks: Large fairs promoted by multinational companies, like Disneyland Paris.