Ecotourism

noun (uncountable)

/ˌiːkəʊˈtʊərɪzəm/

Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains the well-being of local people, and involves interpretation and education — a form of tourism that minimises environmental impact while providing economic benefits to local communities and fostering environmental awareness.

✍️ Usage in a UPSC answer

As biodiversity-rich states like Sikkim and the Andamans court footfall, policymakers must ensure that ecotourism remains a genuine instrument of conservation and community livelihood rather than a euphemism for unchecked commercial intrusion into fragile habitats.

Synonyms

green tourismsustainable tourismresponsible tourismnature tourismconservation travelecotravel

Antonyms

mass tourismovertourismexploitative tourismextractive tourism

🌱 Word Family

ecotourist (n), ecotourists (n pl), ecotouristic (adj), tourism (n), tourist (n)

🔡 Root

Coined/Modern (1983, Ceballos-Lascuráin): Greek oikos = home, habitat (eco-) + English tourism

📜 Etymology

Coined in 1983 by Mexican architect and environmentalist Héctor Ceballos-Lascuráin; from Greek oikos ("home, habitat") + English "tourism."

🧠 Memory Hook

"ECO + TOURISM" = travel (tourism) that keeps your eco-logical footprint light; you tour nature's house (Greek oikos) without trashing it.

🌍 Geography 📖 Seen in: Tourism & Cultural Geography — Heritag...

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