Service Sectors, Transportation, Trade, and Tourism in Spain

Types of Services and Subsectors

They are classified into two categories:

• Private Services: Provided by private firms, funded by payments from service requesters. Their main purpose is to obtain economic benefit.
• Public Services: Provided by the state, funded through taxes. Their goal is to deliver goods to society, rather than profit. State funding of basic services for the whole population gives rise to the welfare state.

Subsectors

• Business Services: Banking, insurance, consulting, etc.
• Distribution: Transport and storage, communications, etc.
• Social Services: Health, education, etc.
• Consumer Services: Retail, hospitality, culture, etc.

Transportation and its Characteristics

Transportation is an activity that moves people and goods between two or more places. The transport system is the way we travel: terrestrial, maritime, or air transport. Each type of transport requires some means of transport (cars, buses, trucks, etc.) and fixed infrastructure for traffic (roads, highways, ports, etc.). The characteristics of transport are increasing speed, autonomy, comfort, and security.

Road and Rail Transport

Road transport is the most commonly used method for transporting passengers and goods over medium and short distances. Its advantages are direct access to the point of arrival and time flexibility. Its drawbacks are its limited capacity, both for people and goods, and the pollution caused by motor vehicles.

Rail transportation is used to transport passengers and goods at all distances. Its advantages are its high storage capacity, safety, and speed. The disadvantages are the rigidity of the track and the high cost of constructing lines.

Wholesale and Retail Trade

Wholesale involves purchasing products directly in large quantities and selling them to other merchants and businesses. Goods are concentrated in core markets, catering to small businesses.

Retail involves selling directly to consumers in small amounts. Street markets are held in towns and urban neighborhoods, called markets. Municipal markets group different types of trade in the same place. Small businesses are dispersed throughout towns and cities. Large commercial areas are located in smaller towns and offer diverse and cheap products.

Types of Tourism

There are four main types of tourism:

• Coastal Tourism: Includes sun and beach tourism, practiced on the coasts of temperate and warm seas and on the shores of some lakes.
• Mountain Tourism: Based on scenic values and the practice of alpine skiing.
• Rural Tourism: Provides a link with traditional farming and valuable ecosystems.
• Urban Tourism: Includes cultural tourism based on visiting cities of historical, artistic, or cultural significance.

Transportation in Spain

The physical environment is unfavorable due to the existence of rugged terrain with steep slopes and the frequency of climatic elements such as frost. Road transport dominates both passenger and freight transport. Transport networks follow a radial pattern centered on Madrid. From this city, roads, railways, and airlines are drawn to the periphery. There are strong regional imbalances; the network quality is higher in more economically developed regions. Transport policy aims to provide high accessibility to all parts, connecting all provincial capitals. Terrestrial communications with Europe are weak. Building infrastructure is essential to increase accessibility and economic competitiveness. The transportation system affects the environment by altering the landscape, causing noise and pollution. It is required to assess the environmental impact of projects.