Ecotourists

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Those who participate in travel aimed at appreciating natural environments while promoting conservation and engaging with local cultures
2. Travelers committed to exploring ecosystems sustainably, supporting environmental preservation, and experiencing indigenous lifestyles
3. People who journey to natural areas with the aim of supporting conservation and understanding local habitats and communities

Etymology: The history here is a plain compound, and its most useful fact is what each half contributes. "Tourist" traces back to the Greek "tornos", a lathe or turning tool, which passed through Latin "tornus" and Old French "tourner" (to turn, go around) before English "tour" took hold. The suffix "-ist" arrived in English through Latin "-ista" and Old French "-iste", and it marks a person who does or follows something, so "tourist" is literally one who makes the circuit. The prefix "eco-" comes from Greek "oikos", meaning house or household, which is also the root of "economy" (household management) and "ecology" (the study of organisms in their home environment). It reached English through Latin "oeco-" and French "éco-". Joining it to "tourist" produced "ecotourist": someone who travels in the way the name suggests, with the surroundings of the journey, rather than just the sights, in view.

Synonyms: nature travelers, environmental tourists, sustainable travelers