Understanding Transport Networks, Tourism, and Globalization

Understanding Key Economic Concepts

Transport Networks

A transport network is the interconnected set of transport infrastructure (roads, railroads, airports, etc.) existing within a territory. Transport and telecommunications networks form the backbone of a region's infrastructure.

Cultural Tourism

Cultural tourism is a form of tourism driven by the desire to understand and appreciate our heritage. It showcases cultural heritage and serves as a counterpoint to sun and beach tourism, diversifying the tourism offer and attracting new tourists. This modality has been recently introduced and is gaining popularity.

Rural Tourism

Rural tourism focuses on contact with nature and is an alternative to traditional mass tourism. It offers several advantages, such as:

• Quality tourism with a lower environmental impact
• Development of the economy of towns and rural areas
• A positive impact on local products and handicrafts

The growth of rural tourism in recent years has been driven by policy advocacy for sustainable endogenous development and the over-saturation of coastal tourist areas.

Tourist Infrastructure

Tourist infrastructure includes facilities needed to promote economic development through tourism. Some infrastructure, such as roads and transport, are common to other economic activities. Others, such as hotels and tour operators, are specific to the tourism industry.

Foreign Trade

Foreign trade involves trade relations with other countries, consisting of two flows: the sale of Spanish products to other countries (exports) and the purchase of goods from abroad for use or consumption in Spain (imports).

Balance of Payments

The balance of payments encompasses all economic transactions conducted between a country and other countries over a year. It consists of four partial balances: trade, services, capital, and transfers.

Globalization

Globalization is a concept coined in the late twentieth century that refers to the gradual reduction of borders between countries and the shrinking of the world. The widespread use of high-speed transportation, as well as the utilization of the internet and email, tends to diminish and even eliminate the sense of distance.