Tertiary Economic Activities: 100 Examples
Tertiary activities refer to the sector of the economy that provides services to consumers and other businesses.
This sector includes a wide variety of activities such as retail trade, banking, health care, education, tourism and hospitality.
Tertiary economic activities have become increasingly important in many developed economies, accounting for a significant share of GDP and employment.
Growth in this sector has been driven by factors such as rising incomes, changing consumer preferences and technological advances.
This sector can have a major impact on economic growth, employment and consumer welfare, and understanding its dynamics and trends can provide valuable insights for policymakers and businesses.
Examples include
Hospitality services
Accommodation services: room reservations, check-in and check-out, room service and housekeeping.
Food and beverage services: restaurants, bars, room service, banquets, buffets.
Meeting and event services: meeting rooms, audiovisual equipment.
Concierge services: transportation reservations, tour arrangements, local recommendations.
Spa and wellness services: massages, facials, fitness classes, swimming pools.
Executive Services: Printing, photocopying, faxing, secretarial services.
Entertainment Services: Discotheques, Theaters, Golf Courses, Swimming Pools, Game Rooms.
Room Services: Mini Bar, Wi-Fi, Cable TV, Toiletries, Safe.
Retail Services: Gift shops, convenience stores, sundries.
Transportation Services: Shuttle Service, Car Rental, Valet Parking.
24 Hour Front Desk Services: Check-In/Check-Out, Luggage Storage, Wake-Up Call.
Children's services: Babysitting, Children's playgrounds.
Health and Safety Services: First Aid, Security, Fire Safety.
Sustainable and environmental services: energy-efficient lighting, recycling programs, water conservation.
Discover even more about 30 Examples of Primary Economic Activities.
Travel & Tourism
Transportation: airlines, buses, trains, taxis, car rentals.
Lodging: hotels, motels, resorts, vacation rentals, campgrounds.
Guides: guided tours, walking tours, city tours, adventure tours, nature tours.
Travel Planning and Booking: Travel Agencies, Online Booking Platforms, Travel Insurance Providers.
Gastronomy: restaurants, cafés, gastronomy itineraries, cookery courses.
Entertainment and leisure: amusement parks, theme parks, museums, theaters, sporting events, festivals.
Sports and Recreation: Skiing, Surfing, Kayaking, Hiking, Climbing, Ziplining.
Health and wellness: spas, yoga retreats, meditation retreats, wellness clinics.
Culture: Heritage sites, monuments, cultural centers, archaeological sites.
Ecotourism: wildlife sanctuaries, eco-lodges, organic farms, responsible travel options.
Accessories and equipment: luggage, guidebooks, maps, travel apps.
Education and research: academic programs, industry associations, tourism research centers.
Health Care
Includes companies that provide medical services, such as hospitals and clinics, and social services, such as day care and elder care.
Preventive care: Immunizations, physicals, wellness visits.
Primary care: routine checkups, acute care, chronic disease management, health education.
Specialty care: cardiology, oncology, neurology, pediatrics, dermatology.
Emergency services: urgent care, urgent care clinics, ambulance services.
Rehabilitative: Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy
Mental Health: Therapy, Counseling, Psychiatry, Addiction Treatment.
Home health: nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical social services.
Palliative care: pain management, palliative care, emotional and spiritual support for seriously ill patients.
Diagnostics: Laboratory tests, imaging tests, diagnostic procedures.
Surgical services: outpatient and inpatient surgery, anesthesia, pre- and post-operative care.
Dental services: preventive care, routine checkups, restorative services, cosmetic dentistry.
Alternative and complementary health care: acupuncture, massage, chiropractic, phytotherapy.
Health education: health classes, health promotion campaigns, health hotlines.
Patient support: patient advocacy, transportation services, translation services, financial assistance programs.
Discover even more about 80 Examples of Secondary Economic Activities.
Social Assistance
A few examples of social assistance services:
Financial assistance programs: cash assistance, food assistance, housing assistance, utility assistance, child care subsidies.
Employment and training services: Job training programs, career counseling, employment assistance, unemployment benefits.
Health Care Programs: Medicaid, Medicare, prescription drug assistance programs.
Child and family services: foster care, adoption services, child protective services, family counseling.
Domestic violence services: shelters, counseling, legal advocacy, crisis hotlines.
Mental Health Services: Counseling, treatment programs, support groups, crisis intervention.
Senior Services: meal delivery, transportation assistance, caregiver support, senior center activities.
Disability services: assistive technology, home modifications, vocational rehabilitation, disability benefits.
Youth Services: After-school programs, mentoring programs, summer camps, recreational activities.
Community development services: affordable housing, small business development, neighborhood revitalization.
Legal services: pro bono legal services, legal aid, legal clinics, conflict resolution services.
Disaster Relief: Emergency shelter, food and water assistance, medical assistance, counseling.
Advocacy and outreach: community organizing, public policy advocacy, public education campaigns, outreach to underserved populations.
Transportation: public transportation subsidies, rideshare programs, transportation for the elderly and disabled.
Professional Services
Includes businesses that provide consulting, accounting, legal, and other professional services to other businesses and individuals.
Legal services: legal advice, contract drafting and review, dispute resolution, litigation.
Accounting and tax services: bookkeeping, financial statement preparation, tax planning and compliance, audits.
Management consulting: business strategy, organizational development, process improvement, change management.
Marketing and advertising: market research, branding, advertising campaigns, digital marketing.
Information Technology: software development, cybersecurity, network design and management, data analytics.
Engineering and Architecture: Building design, project management, environmental assessment, structural engineering.
Financial services: investment advisory, financial planning, wealth management, insurance.
Human Resources: Talent acquisition, benefits administration, performance management, HR consulting.
Public relations: media relations, crisis management, reputation management, event planning.
Translation and interpreting: document translation, interpreting services, localization.
Healthcare Consulting: Healthcare management consulting, process improvement, electronic medical record implementation.
Education and training: teacher training, corporate training, e-learning, educational consulting.
Real estate services: property management, real estate brokerage, appraisal, leasing and rental.
Financial Services
Includes companies that provide banking, insurance, and investment services to individuals and businesses.
Banking services: checking and savings accounts, loans, credit cards, mortgages.
Investments: brokerage services, financial planning, retirement planning, asset management.
Insurance: life insurance, health insurance, auto insurance, property insurance.
Accounting and tax services: bookkeeping, financial statement preparation, tax planning and compliance, audits.
Financial technology: online banking, mobile payments, digital wallets, cryptocurrency trading.
Estate planning and trusts: wills and trusts, asset management, estate planning.
Risk Management: Risk Assessment, Fraud Prevention, Compliance.
Merchant Services: credit card processing, point-of-sale systems, online payment processing.
Trade Finance: Letters of Credit, Invoice Finance, Export Finance.
Corporate Finance: debt and equity financing, mergers and acquisitions.
Wealth management: investment advisory, financial planning, asset management.
Pensions and Retirement: retirement planning, pension plan administration, investment management.
Consumer finance: personal loans, lines of credit, installment loans, payday loans.
Real estate finance: mortgage loans, commercial real estate loans, construction loans, bridge loans.
Information Technology
Includes companies that provide software development, telecommunications, and other technology-related services.
Programming and software development services: web development, mobile application development, desktop application development, software testing.
Cloud Computing: Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), Software as a Service (SaaS).
Networking and Cybersecurity: Network design and installation, network management and monitoring, cybersecurity assessments, penetration testing.
Data Management and Analysis: Data Warehousing, Data Mining, Business Intelligence, Data Visualization.
Internet of Things: sensor installation and management, data analysis and visualization.
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning: Natural language processing (NLP), chatbots, predictive analytics, image and speech recognition.
IT Consulting: IT strategy development, systems analysis and design, project management, IT governance.
Web Design and Development: Website Design, Content Management, E-commerce Development, Search Engine Optimization.
IT Outsourcing: Software Development Outsourcing, IT Infrastructure Outsourcing, Managed Services.
Technical Support and Help Desk: End User Support, IT Troubleshooting, Technical Troubleshooting, Remote Assistance.
Digital Marketing: Search Engine Optimization, Social Media Marketing, Pay Per Click Advertising, Email Marketing.
Cloud Migration and Integration: Assessment, planning and migration to the cloud, integration of cloud-based and on-premises systems.
Database Management Services: Database design and development, database administration, backup and recovery.
Internet and web-related services: domain registration, web hosting, email hosting, content delivery networks.
Communications Services
Internet and broadband services: cable, DSL, fiber, satellite, and wireless broadband.
Mobile telephony: voice and text messaging plans, mobile data plans, international roaming services.
Fixed Telephony: Local and long distance services, caller ID, voicemail, call waiting.
Email and messaging: email hosting, instant messaging, video conferencing.
Video and audio streaming: video on demand, live TV streaming, music streaming, podcasts.
Social networking: Social networking, microblogging, photo and video sharing.
Virtual Private Network (VPN): secure remote access, anonymity, privacy.
Satellite Communications Services: Satellite Phones, Satellite Internet, Satellite TV.
Web and online communications: chat services, forums, blogs, online communities.
Unified communications: voice, video, messaging, and conferencing on a single platform.
Cloud-based communications: cloud phone systems, cloud messaging, and collaboration tools.
Teleconferencing: audio and video conferencing, webinars, virtual events.
Messaging and collaboration: email, instant messaging, project management tools, shared calendars, etc.
Digital signage and display: digital billboards, electronic menus, digital screens for information and advertising.
Education sector
Includes companies that provide primary, secondary and higher education services, such as schools and universities.
Early childhood education: preschool, kindergarten, daycare.
K-12 education services: elementary, middle and high school education.
Vocational schools: cosmetology, culinary arts, welding, etc.
Higher Education: Colleges, Universities, Graduate Schools.
Adult and Continuing Education: Professional Development Courses, Night Schools, Online Learning Programs.
Test Preparation: SAT and ACT, GRE and GMAT.
Tutoring and Coaching: Individual and group tutoring, academic coaching.
Educational Technology: Learning management systems, e-learning platforms, digital educational content.
Special Education: Services for children with disabilities, individualized education plans.
Language training: English as a Second Language (ESL), foreign language training.
Corporate and business training: employee training and development, leadership training, team-building workshops.
Homeschooling and alternative education services: online and distance learning programs, homeschooling resources.
Student services: counseling, academic advising, career services.
Educational consulting: curriculum development, school management consulting, accreditation consulting.
Transportation Services
Includes companies that provide transportation services, such as airlines and shipping lines, and logistics services, such as warehousing and distribution.
Public transportation: buses, trains, subways, light rail, etc.
Air Transportation: Commercial airlines, charter airlines, private air transportation.
Taxi and ridesharing: Uber, Lyft, traditional taxi services.
Car Rental and Car Sharing: Hertz, Enterprise, Zipcar.
Shipping and freight: FedEx, UPS, DHL, Maersk.
Logistics and supply chain management: Inventory management, order fulfillment, distribution services.
Navigation and mapping: GPS systems, mapping applications, navigation systems.
Bicycle and scooter sharing: Lime, Bird, Citi Bike.
Luxury transportation: limousine and chauffeur services, private jets and yachts.
Parking and valet parking: parking lots, valet parking services.
Travel Planning and Booking: Travel Agencies, Online Booking Platforms.
Freight Forwarding and Customs Brokerage: Management and coordination of international shipments and customs procedures.
Tours and excursions: guided tours, tour buses, river cruises.
Emergency Transportation: Ambulance services, air evacuation services.
Logistics Services
Transportation: freight forwarding, tracking and tracing, carrier selection.
Warehousing and storage: inventory management, warehousing, picking and packing, cross-docking.
Inventory management: demand forecasting, replenishment, inventory tracking and analysis.
Supply chain management: supplier management, sourcing, order processing and fulfillment.
Customs brokerage: import and export compliance, customs documentation, duty and tax management.
Packaging and labeling: labeling, packaging design, customized packaging solutions.
Delivery: same day, scheduled, white glove.
Reverse logistics: returns management, refurbishment and recycling services.
E-commerce logistics services: online order fulfillment, shipping and returns management.
Cold Chain Logistics Services: Refrigerated transportation and storage, temperature-controlled packaging and labeling.
Hazardous Materials Logistics: Hazardous materials management and handling, regulatory compliance.
Project logistics: management and coordination of complex logistics projects, such as industrial equipment installations and major construction projects.
Cargo Insurance and Risk Management: Management of cargo insurance policies, risk assessment and management.
Consulting and Technology: Logistics consulting, implementation of logistics software and automation tools.
Utilities
Includes companies that provide essential services such as electricity, water, and gas to homes and businesses.
Emergency: police, fire, ambulance.
Healthcare: public hospitals, clinics, immunization programs.
Public education: public schools, libraries.
Public transportation: buses, trains, subways, light rail.
Environmental services: water treatment, waste management, conservation programs.
Social services: public housing, food assistance programs, job training programs.
Legal services: public defenders, legal aid programs, notary services.
Public safety: crime prevention programs, disaster relief services.
Infrastructure: roads, bridges, utilities such as power and water.
Parks and recreation services: public parks, sports fields, community centers.
Government Administration: Public Records, Taxes, Licenses and Permits.
Public Information: public news agencies, public broadcasting services, websites, and government hotlines.
Community development: public works projects, housing and urban development programs.
Cultural services: museums, art galleries, historic sites, public events and festivals.