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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

Derived 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.

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

From The Wall Street Journal • May 6, 2026

Megan Brief, a digital marketing coordinator for Natural Habitat Adventures, an ecotourism company, had just returned from Svalbard, a far-flung Norwegian archipelago teeming with polar bears and walruses.

From Los Angeles Times • May 2, 2026

An ideal future for Morakinyo would be to develop ecotourism -- sorely lacking in Nigeria, despite its rich wildlife -- and possibly generate funds from carbon credits.

From Barron's • Jan. 22, 2026

The Costa Rica economy relies heavily on ecotourism.

From Science Daily • May 21, 2024

The tourism   sector is also expanding, with the recent trends in ecotourism and   whale watching.

From The 2004 CIA World Factbook by United States. Central Intelligence Agency

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