Owner & Primary Publisher: University of Tehran; Journal of Rural Research 2008-7373 17 1 2026 04 26 Theoretical Conceptions of the Territorial Approach in Sustainable and Resilient Rural Tourism Planning Theoretical Conceptions of the Territorial Approach in Sustainable and Resilient Rural Tourism Planning 35 52 107837 10.22059/jrur.2026.416401.2125 FA Mehdi Pourtaheri Department of Geography and Rural Planning, Tarbiat Modares University,Tehran.Iran Sahar Ravanbeh School of Hospitality Business Management, Carson College of Business, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA Journal Article 2026 01 15 A B S T R A C TTerritorial development, which entails the utilization of endogenous resources, is regarded as a relatively new approach based on enhancing the competitiveness of local productive and institutional systems through multidimensional, multifunctional, and regionally diverse principles. In recent years, rural tourism has become one of the strategies adopted to promote, develop, and integrate local factors through the territorial approach. This approach has not only contributed to the achievement of development objectives but has also enhanced the resilience of rural communities. Accordingly, the United Nations has declared 2027 the International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism. This article examines recent trends and advances in rural tourism development as a strategic action informed by the territorial approach at the local scale. The study shows that rural areas whose natural, social, and economic foundations are dependent on tourism need to adopt a territorial approach in order to achieve sustainable development and resilience. Within this framework, the territorial approach has contributed to identifying and prioritizing the most urgent local challenges in the field of rural tourism. It has also provided more sustainable and resilient solutions for villages with tourism potential. Thus, by explaining the theoretical conceptions of the territorial approach, this article contributes to strengthening the foundations of territorial science in sustainable and resilient rural tourism planning. A B S T R A C TTerritorial development, which entails the utilization of endogenous resources, is regarded as a relatively new approach based on enhancing the competitiveness of local productive and institutional systems through multidimensional, multifunctional, and regionally diverse principles. In recent years, rural tourism has become one of the strategies adopted to promote, develop, and integrate local factors through the territorial approach. This approach has not only contributed to the achievement of development objectives but has also enhanced the resilience of rural communities. Accordingly, the United Nations has declared 2027 the International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism. This article examines recent trends and advances in rural tourism development as a strategic action informed by the territorial approach at the local scale. The study shows that rural areas whose natural, social, and economic foundations are dependent on tourism need to adopt a territorial approach in order to achieve sustainable development and resilience. Within this framework, the territorial approach has contributed to identifying and prioritizing the most urgent local challenges in the field of rural tourism. It has also provided more sustainable and resilient solutions for villages with tourism potential. Thus, by explaining the theoretical conceptions of the territorial approach, this article contributes to strengthening the foundations of territorial science in sustainable and resilient rural tourism planning. https://jrur.ut.ac.ir/article_107837_b063fa830ec16832dd1d29dcbb9fd098.pdf