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454 pollution management
pollution management
Pollution can be defined as deterioration of part of
the environment due to the occurrence of
substances or processes of such types and in such
quantities that the environment cannot assimilate
them before they cause damage. Some would assert
that this definition does not go far enough, and that
any discharge of effluents or emissions pollutes the
receiving environment in that it changes the state
and perhaps the quality of that environment.
Realistically, all that can be done is to reduce
pollution to the minimum possible, in socioeconomic
terms, control the types and levels of
pollutants acceptable, and determine selectively
the location where certain pollutants are to be
released. Pollution management is expensive, both
in terms of technology and procedures called for,
and tradeoffs may be required in production and
capacity levels.
Although the scale of most tourism operations
does not always lead to an identifiable pollution
problem, they can be the source of liquid or
gaseous substances which are potentially a hazard
to health and the environment. Among such
sources are the discharge of sewage into bodies of
water and the ocean; emissions from heating and
refrigeration units; discharge of hazardous substances
through the sewerage or drainage system;
vehicle emissions; odours and spills; and noise and
light pollution. In many situations, practices which
are potentially polluting are controlled by regulation.
Even where this does not apply, good
customer and community relations call for a
mode of operation in a tourism establishment
which will minimise the release of harmful or
undesirable substances into the environment.
Effluents and emissions can be reduced to a
practical minimum by phasing out the use of
hazardous substances, such as chlorine bleaches in
pools, leaded petrol, toxic detergents and so on,
substituting cleaner technologies, installing treatment
and filtration facilities, and adopting acceptable
procedures for storage, use and disposal of
hazardous substances. Relatively simple amendments
to operating practices should reduce or
eliminate nuisance to neighbouring environments.
It is important that measures to manage
pollution in a tourism establishment be subject to
an environmental auditing system. Monitoring
and follow-up are essential to ensure that the
measures are effective and self-regulation is as
important as mandatory inspections by a regulatory
agency �see also regulation, self). Pollution
management is an integral part of best practice
environmental management in the industry. It
need not be expensive, and is cost-effective in terms
of long-term operational savings and guest relations.
See also: codes of ethics, environmental;
education, environmental; legislation,
environmental
Further reading
International Hotel Association �1995) Environmental
Action Pack for Hotels, Paris: UNEP.
pornography
JOHN J. PIGRAM, AUSTRALIA
Writings, pictures and films designed to stimulate
sexual excitement are termed pornography. Fantasy,
including sexual, is a major determinant of
tourism, and destination differences in the
accessibility, legal and social acceptability of
pornography can lead to `porno-tourism', motivated
by the purchase or experience of pornography.
The distinction is increasingly being made
between acceptable sexual fantasy and consumption,
and unacceptable sexual exploitation.
G.J. ASHWORTH, THE NETHERLANDS
portfolio model see marketing
Portugal
Located on the Western side of the Iberian
peninsula, Portugal has a territory of 35,574 square
miles, including the mainland and the Azores and
Madeira islands. With a population in 1997 of
9,943,000, Portugal is one of the oldest independent
countries in Europe, harking back to the