Tertiary Economic Activities (Leaving Cert Geography): Revision Notes
Tertiary Economic Activities
The tertiary sector plays a dominant role in the Paris Basin's economy, employing around 70% of the region's workforce. This service-based economy has developed extensively due to the area's strategic location as a core European region. Two key tertiary activities drive the region's economic success: transport services and tourism.
Transport
The Paris Basin benefits enormously from its geographical advantages and position within Europe. The region's flat, low-lying relief has made constructing transport infrastructure relatively straightforward and cost-effective. All major transport routes converge on Paris, establishing the city as the central hub of France's national transport network.
The convergence of all major transport routes on Paris creates a radial transport pattern that connects the capital efficiently to every region of France, making it the undisputed transport centre of the country.
Roads
France's motorway system operates like spokes radiating outward from Paris, connecting the capital to every other region of the country. A particularly important feature is the Boulevard Périphérique, which forms a ring road encircling Paris. This road was designed to help traffic bypass the city centre, reducing congestion in central areas.
The Boulevard Périphérique is one of Europe's busiest roads, handling between 1.1 and 1.2 million vehicles daily, though average speeds remain low at just 40 km/h due to heavy traffic volumes.
However, the success of this ring road has created its own challenges. Because it's surrounded by the city and suburbs on both sides, the road cannot be widened to accommodate increasing traffic demand, leading to persistent congestion problems.
Airports
The Paris Basin operates several well-developed airports that serve both tourism and international business needs. The main airports include Charles de Gaulle, Beauvais, and Orly. These facilities are particularly important for promoting tourism and supporting light industry trade connections.
Charles de Gaulle Airport ranks as Europe's second busiest airport, processing approximately 200,000 passengers every day.
Rail
France's national railway company, SNCF, operates an extensive network where most rail lines run parallel to the country's motorway system. This means train routes also radiate outward from Paris to connect with other French regions.
The pride of France's rail system is the TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse), the country's high-speed rail network. While the TGV can reach speeds of up to 320 km/h, normal operating speeds are considerably lower than this maximum. The system has revolutionised travel by connecting Paris to major European cities including Cologne, Brussels, Amsterdam, and London through the Channel Tunnel.
This excellent rail connectivity has significantly reduced demand for domestic flights and cross-channel air travel, demonstrating the effectiveness of high-speed rail as an alternative to air transport for medium-distance journeys.
Ports
Le Havre, located in the northern part of the Paris Basin, serves as one of Europe's most important ports. Modern facilities including roll-on/roll-off container ships and ferry services have enabled efficient export of French products such as wine, food, and clothing, particularly to the UK market.
The port also supports tourism through numerous ferry crossings to Britain and Ireland. The River Seine provides additional transport benefits, with canal systems connecting the river to other parts of the region, allowing for efficient movement of heavy, bulky goods.
Tourism
Paris serves as France's primary entry point for international visitors, making the Paris Basin a major beneficiary of the country's tourism industry. The region attracts 15% of all national tourism, welcoming approximately 45 million visitors annually. This massive influx generates around €20 billion per year for the regional economy, with tourism accounting for 11% of all employment in Paris.
Tourism in the Paris Basin centres around three main categories of attractions: historic sites, theme parks, and city breaks.
Historic sites
Many urban centres throughout the region date back to mediaeval times, and most have been carefully preserved and converted into pedestrianised areas. This preservation allows tourists to explore these areas freely and safely.
The region boasts impressive Gothic cathedrals, with Notre Dame Cathedral being the most famous example, attracting 13 million tourists annually. Other significant cathedrals in Reims and Chartres also draw substantial visitor numbers.
Key historic attractions include:
- The Palace of Versailles - the former royal residence before the French Revolution
- The Louvre Museum - housing over 35,000 priceless artefacts including the Mona Lisa, with 9.3 million annual visitors (70% from overseas)
- Arc de Triomphe - Napoleon's victory monument from 1806, easily accessible via Metro lines
Tourism Impact Example: The Louvre Museum
The Louvre demonstrates the economic impact of historic attractions:
- Annual visitors: 9.3 million
- International visitors: 70% (approximately 6.5 million)
- Revenue generation: Supports thousands of jobs in tourism, hospitality, and retail
- Multiplier effect: Each museum visitor typically spends money on accommodation, dining, and shopping
Theme parks
Disneyland Paris, situated at Marne-la-Vallée approximately 32 km east of Paris, represents the region's most successful theme park development. Built in 1992 near Charles de Gaulle Airport for convenient access, the resort initially struggled to attract sufficient visitors.
Disneyland Paris has become Europe's top visitor attraction, welcoming over 15 million guests annually and employing roughly 55,000 people year-round. Since opening, it has generated nearly €40 billion in revenue.
City breaks
Paris holds the distinction of being the world's most visited city, receiving 33 million visitors each year. Tourism creates 240,000 jobs within the city, representing 11% of total employment. The city offers diverse attractions, with the Eiffel Tower alone attracting over 12 million visitors annually.
Paris has developed a reputation for fine dining and romantic experiences, making it particularly popular with European visitors seeking weekend breaks.
Factors which benefit tourism
Several key factors have contributed to the Paris Basin's tourism success:
- Excellent transport connections - making the region easily accessible from across Europe
- Large domestic market - providing a solid foundation of French tourists
- Budget airline growth - companies like Ryanair have made travel more affordable
- Extended holidays - longer annual leave and shorter working days have encouraged longer tourist stays
- Market expansion - EU enlargement brought new tourist markets from Central and Eastern European countries
- Growing Asian market - tourism from Asia increased by 10% between 2014 and 2015
The combination of these factors creates a positive feedback loop where improved accessibility leads to more visitors, which justifies further investment in tourism infrastructure and attractions.
Key Points to Remember:
- The tertiary sector employs 70% of the Paris Basin's workforce, making it crucial to the regional economy
- Paris functions as the nodal point for France's transport network, with all major roads, rail lines, and airports connecting through the capital
- The TGV high-speed rail system has reduced the need for domestic flights and connects Paris to major European cities
- Tourism generates €20 billion annually for the region, with Paris being the world's most visited city
- Historic sites like Notre Dame and the Louvre, combined with modern attractions like Disneyland Paris, create diverse tourism appeal that attracts 45 million visitors per year