Key Concepts in Economy, Transport, and Tourism

Glossary of Economic, Transport, and Tourism Terms

Economic Concepts

Outsourcing

Outsourcing is the process by which a sector of the economy gains weight relative to other sectors, becoming primary in terms of both workforce and contribution to GDP.

Production Services

These services support the tertiary industry. Production activities, in terms of employment, can exceed the product itself, which tends to be reduced by increased mechanization.

Transport and Logistics

Transport Network

The transport network is the system of spatial organization for transport. It consists of three elements:

  • Paths
  • Nodes
  • Flows

Accessibility

Accessibility is the degree of ease or difficulty of reaching a place from other locations with different geographical positions.

Motorway

A motorway is a large-capacity road equipped with separate roadways for both directions of traffic and free of level crossings.

Dual Carriageway

A dual carriageway is a high-capacity road, similar to a motorway due to the existence of separate roads for the two directions of traffic, but it lacks some of a motorway’s key features.

Greenways

The Greenways Project of the Ministry of Environment was launched in 1992. It aims to use uneconomical railway lines, closed to rail traffic, for ecological and leisure purposes.

Freight Logistics

Freight logistics involves planning, organizing, managing, and implementing the activities of transporting goods within the supply chain.

Logistics Platforms

Logistics platforms are active areas where freight transport logistics activities are carried out.

Inland Ports

Inland ports are multimodal freight terminals located within a country, which have direct links to seaports and may also include customs facilities.

Information Highways

Information highways are electronic networks that connect and circulate vast amounts of texts, images, and sounds instantly from any point on Earth.

Tourism and Retail

Tourism

The term tourism first appeared in the Shorter OED, referring to the Grand Tour and cultural tours performed in the 18th century by young Englishmen from wealthy families to complete their education.

Tourist Package

A tourist package is a reservation that combines at least two of these elements: lodging, transportation, and additional services, sold at an indivisible package price through a travel agency.

Seasonal Tourism

Seasonal tourism refers to the concentration of tourism demand in certain months.

Franchise

A franchise is a business model where a company (franchisor) grants another (franchisee) a license to operate a trademark or commercial formula in exchange for a fee and adherence to specific guidelines, with the franchisor providing assistance.

Public Services

Public services are provided by the State or public administrations, funded by tax money.

Transportation

Transportation is the activity of moving people and goods between geographical locations.

PEIT (Strategic Infrastructure Plan for Transport)

PEIT is the Strategic Infrastructure Plan for Transport, representing a state transportation policy.

Tourist Area

A tourist area is an ample space with a high density of tourists, whether foreign or domestic.

Tourist Hotspot

Tourist hotspots are isolated tourist concentrations, linked to specific attractions.

Trade

Trade is the exchange of goods and services between countries or within communities in one country.

Foreign Trade

Foreign trade is the exchange of goods and services between a country and the rest of the world.

Large Retail Store

A large retail store is a type of big commercial establishment that has a sales area greater than 2,500 m².