Notes Class 12 Chapter 6 Geography Maharashtra Board

Tertiary Economic Activities

Introduction

• Economic Activities: Human activities that generate income are called economic activities. They are divided into:
• Primary Activities: Directly depend on nature (e.g., farming, fishing, mining).
• Secondary Activities: Process raw materials from primary activities to make finished goods (e.g., manufacturing, textile production).
• Tertiary Activities: Provide services to support primary and secondary activities (e.g., transport, trade, communication, tourism).
• Tertiary Activities: These are service-based activities that link primary and secondary sectors. Examples include transportation, trade, communication, banking, and tourism.

Case Study: Entrepreneurs and Their Ventures

Rohit (Farmer’s Son):

• Plans to grow export-quality crops like lilies, orchids, kiwis, and dragon fruits.
• Needs to modify farmland (control moisture, temperature, soil pH) and use special fertilizers.
• Requires a license, foreign transaction account, and saplings.
• Targets Gulf countries for export due to high demand and proximity (freshness maintained during air transport).

Sejal (Businessman’s Daughter):

• Wants to produce toothpaste (FMCG product) using an advanced formula for dental health.
• Needs machinery, labor, land, No Objection Certificates (NOCs), packaging industries, and advertising.
• Benefits from government start-up schemes for subsidized loans; her father provides land.

Asif (Hotel Owner’s Son):

• Plans to start an event management company.
• Requires services like catering, florists, hall rentals, and permissions from authorities.
• Sets up an office and uses brochures and visiting cards for marketing.

Key Points:

• All three engage in tertiary activities (services like trade, event management) but interact with primary (farming) and secondary (manufacturing) sectors.
• They need permissions from competent authorities (government bodies that issue licenses/NOCs).

Questions from the Case Study

Competent Authorities: Government officials or departments that grant permissions, licenses, or NOCs for businesses.

Economic Activities:

• Rohit: Primary (agriculture) and tertiary (export trade).
• Sejal: Secondary (toothpaste manufacturing) and tertiary (trade, advertising).
• Asif: Tertiary (event management services).

Interactions:

• Rohit interacts with agricultural officers (tertiary) and foreign vendors (tertiary).
• Sejal collaborates with pharmaceutical experts (tertiary) and packaging industries (secondary).
• Asif works with caterers, florists, and hall owners (tertiary).

Classification of Activities:

• Primary: Farming (Rohit’s crops).
• Secondary: Toothpaste production, packaging (Sejal).
• Tertiary: Export trade, event management, advertising, licensing, banking.

Understanding Tertiary Activities

Definition: Tertiary activities provide services to support primary and secondary sectors. They involve buying/selling goods, transportation, communication, banking, tourism, etc.

Examples:

• Trade (wholesale, retail).
• Transportation (road, rail, air, water).
• Communication (phone, internet, postal services).
• Services (banking, insurance, tourism, education).

Characteristics:

• Do not directly derive products from nature (unlike primary).
• May produce some goods (e.g., brochures in event management) but focus on services.
• Act as a link between primary and secondary activities.

Geographical Influence:

• Climate, topography, and location affect tertiary activities (e.g., ports need coastal areas, airports need flat land).
• Markets are located near human settlements, influenced by geographical factors.

Classification of Tertiary Activities (Fig. 6.1)

Trade and Commerce:

• Wholesale (urban/rural markets, mandies).
• Retail (shops, chain stores, malls, street peddling).
• Public Distribution System (PDS).

Transportation:

Rail, road, waterways, airways, pipelines.

Communication:

Postal services, telecom (landline, mobile, internet), media (TV, radio, films, print).

Other Services:

• Tourism, banking, insurance, real estate, personal/professional services.
• Dependent on Geography: Waterways, ports, tourism (e.g., coastal areas for ports, scenic areas for tourism).
• Not Dependent on Geography: Banking, telecom, retail (can function anywhere with infrastructure).

Transportation

Definition: A tertiary activity that moves people, goods, or industrial products from one place to another.

Importance:

• Essential for trade and economic development.
• Connects production areas to markets.

Types:

• Land: Roads, railways, pipelines.
• Water: Sea routes, canals (e.g., Suez, Panama).
• Air: Airways for fast transport.

Geographical Factors:

• Relief: Flat areas are easier for roads/railways; rugged terrains (mountains, forests) are challenging.
• Climate: Fog, snow, or high peaks can hinder air transport.
• Location: Coastal areas favor ports; inland areas need roads/railways.

Examples:

• Suez Canal: Connects Asia, Europe, and Africa.
• Panama Canal: Links Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
• Airways: Used for perishable goods like grapes; sea transport for bulk goods like cotton.

Map-Based Questions (Fig. 6.2)

• Transportation Means: Railways, airways, waterways.
• Higher Flow: Between North America and Europe (dense trade routes).
• Canals: Suez and Panama; they shorten sea routes for trade.
• Indian Cities: Mumbai and Delhi (international airports).
• Less Air Routes: Africa and South America (less developed infrastructure).
• Less Rail Routes: Africa and Australia (sparse population, rugged terrain).
• Intercontinental Rail: Trans-Siberian Railway (Asia to Europe).
• Australia’s Routes: Southern parts are more populated, so more routes; northern parts are arid.
• No Continuous Rail in Africa: Dense forests, deserts, and political instability.

Trade

• Definition: Voluntary exchange of goods and services between parties (individuals, countries).
• Types:
• Bilateral: Trade between two countries.
• Multilateral: Trade among multiple countries.
• Internal: Trade within a country.
• Factors Affecting Trade:
• Natural Resources: Uneven distribution (e.g., Gulf countries export oil, import grains).
• Climate: Affects crop/animal production (e.g., tropical countries export tea, coffee).
• Population: Dense populations need more imports; skilled populations (e.g., IT in India) drive service exports.
• Culture: Unique products (e.g., Kashmiri shawls, Chinese porcelain) have global demand.
• Economic Cost: Importing is cheaper than producing if conditions are unfavorable.
• Specialization: Countries export specialized goods/services (e.g., Israel’s dry farming).
• Government Policies: Free trade policies promote trade; restrictions limit it.
• Example:
• Country A (500 tons wheat, 200 laborers) vs. Country B (1000 tons wheat, 300 laborers): Trade may occur if B is more efficient.
• Country C (tea) and D (coffee): Trade occurs due to specialization.
• Country E (water engineering) and F (metro-making): Trade in services due to expertise.

Tourism

• Definition: A tertiary activity where people travel for leisure, culture, or adventure, contributing to a country’s economy.
• Importance:
• Contributes to GDP and employment (e.g., Maldives: 38.92% GDP, Aruba: 29.91% employment).
• Boosts local businesses (hotels, transport, guides).
• Geographical Factors:
• Physical: Climate, biodiversity, scenic beauty, beaches, mountains.
• Human: Transport, lodging, cultural diversity, government policies.
• Examples:
• Island countries (Maldives, Seychelles) thrive on tourism due to beaches and climate.
• Low tourism in countries like Congo (0.66% GDP) due to political instability, dense forests, and poor infrastructure.
• Planning in Tourism:
• Needed to manage resources, reduce negative impacts (e.g., environmental damage), and boost positive impacts (e.g., employment).
• Involves communities for sustainable development.
• Long-term process to improve infrastructure and attractiveness.

Communication

• Definition: A tertiary activity that involves sharing information through various means.
• Evolution:
• Past: Smoke signals, horsemen, telegrams.
• Present: Telephones, mobiles, internet, satellites.
• Importance:
• Satellites provide data on weather, minerals, and navigation.
• Drives regional development and global connectivity.
• Examples:
• Postal services, TV, radio, internet, mobile apps.
• Maps and GPS are communication tools (e.g., used in geography practicals).