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ecotourism

American  
[ek-oh-toor-iz-uhm, ee-koh‑] / ˌɛk oʊˈtʊər ɪz əm, ˌi koʊ‑ /

noun

  1. tourism to places having unspoiled natural resources, with minimal impact on the environment being a primary concern.


ecotourism British  
/ ˈiːkəʊˌtʊərɪzəm /

noun

  1. tourism that is designed to contribute to the protection of the environment or at least minimize damage to it, often involving travel to areas of natural interest in developing countries or participation in environmental projects

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of ecotourism

1985–90; eco- + tourism

Vocabulary lists containing ecotourism

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

In 2015, he launched Ted Turner Reserves, which sells luxury ecotourism packages in New Mexico.

From The Wall Street Journal May 6, 2026

The Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary has defied the threat of habitat loss and civil war to become the country's leading ecotourism destination and a model for environmental conservation across west Africa.

From Barron's Nov. 3, 2025

The Costa Rica economy relies heavily on ecotourism.

From Science Daily May 21, 2024

Nestled along the Beagle Channel with snow-capped mountains behind it, Ushuaia grew into a significant port city of 80,000 and a hub for ecotourism.

From Los Angeles Times Feb. 12, 2024

Tourism has increased as the government seeks to promote Dominica as an "ecotourism" destination.

From The 2008 CIA World Factbook by United States. Central Intelligence Agency

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