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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

  • ecotourist noun

Etymology

Origin of ecotourism

1985–90; eco- + tourism

Vocabulary lists containing ecotourism

South America - Middle School

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South America - Introductory

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Central America and the Caribbean - Introductory

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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.

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

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

Saving the eastern lowland gorilla is a difficult balancing act and, to succeed, it needs the support of the park's human neighbours who will also benefit from ecotourism.

From BBC • Jan. 6, 2024

This study's focus on scuba diving -- an important sector of the Southern California marine ecotourism industry -- is unique.

From Science Daily • Nov. 30, 2023

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

From The 2003 CIA World Factbook by United States. Central Intelligence Agency

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.