Assessing the capabilities of historical tourism and its impact on rural sustainable development, (case study: rural settlements of Soltaniyeh area, Zanjan province)

To assess the capabilities of historical tourism and improve its performance, it is necessary to analyze the existing and potential capabilities of historical tourism and its role in sustainable rural development. Historical tourism sites require development of infrastructures and welfare and supportive services. The spatial effects of tourism and its environmental, ecological, social, economic, and physical consequences can either be positiveor negative.This affects the development of rural tourist destinations. This study ries to assess the effects of historical tourism capabilities in development of rural settlements. In this descriptive and analytical study, 319 households were randomly selected from12 rural settlements of Soltaniyeh area. The variables used to measure the level of development of rural settlements included 79 items in environmental, ecological, tourism resources, socio-economic and physical dimensions. In addition, the effective component was determined by 14 indicators. The results showed a significant positive relationship between indicators such as capabilities to attract tourists, and the capabilities to create catering units and welfare facilities with indicators of sustainable rural development in Soltaniyeh area. In contrast, the capability of creating tour groups and the capability of creating residential units and supportive services are not found o have a positive place in explaining of sustainable rural development of Soltaniyeh area. Therefore, promoting indicators of historical tourism capabilities components is essential to be considered by policy makers and tourism administrators as an effective strategyfor achieving the sustainable rural development goals.