The definition of ecotourism adopted by Ecotourism Australia is: "Ecotourism is ecologically sustainable tourism with a primary focus on experiencing natural areas that fosters environmental and cultural understanding, appreciation and conservation." Learn more. ecotourism meaning: 1. the business of organizing holidays to places of natural beauty in a way that helps local people…. According to The Oxford English Dictionary, the word “ecotour” was first recorded in 1973, followed by “ecotourism” in 1982.. Define ecotourism. Ecotourism (sustainable tourism) is a part of environmental conservation, and understanding what the needs of the people are who are local to the area so that you can help to improve their quality of life. Ecotourism Official Definition. ecotourism synonyms, ecotourism pronunciation, ecotourism translation, English dictionary definition of ecotourism. Sustainable tourism. It also involves learning more about the history of other cities and preserving the historical landmarks. Ecotourism, according to the International Ecotourism Society, is “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains the well-being of the local people, and involves interpretation and education.” This means that ecotourism is much more than traveling around the globe and sightseeing. Ecotourism is responsible travel to fragile, pristine, and usually protected areas that strive to be low impact and (often) small scale (as an alternative to mass tourism). Ecotourism definition, tourism to places having unspoiled natural resources, with minimal impact on the environment being a primary concern. Sustainable tourism development guidelines and management practices are applicable to all forms of tourism in all types of destinations, including mass tourism and the various niche tourism segments. ‘That ecotourism is one of Belize's tickets to development is at least partially a result of the environmental history of Belize.’ ‘The crowning event, last month's Summit in Canada, was the largest worldwide gathering on ecotourism ever held.’ THE DEFINITION OF ECOTOURISM. According to The International Ecotourism Society (TIES), ecotourism can be defined as “responsible travel to natural areas that conserve the environment, sustains the well-being of the local people, and involves interpretation and education”. There, the word is defined as, “Tourism to areas of ecological interest (typically exotic and often threatened natural environments), especially to support conservation efforts and observe wildlife; spec. Keep up with what we're doing. See more. The Definition of Ecotourism. Eco-tourism definition: Eco-tourism is the business of providing holidays and related services which are not... | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples (Source: The International Ecotourism Society) Conceptual definition of Sustainable Tourism by UNWTO.