kiomars khodapanah - Assistant Professor, Department of Geography and Rural Planning, Payame Noor University, Tehran,Iran.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of tourism in the sustainable rural development of Saholan water cave in Mahabad city. The research is of survey type.The statistical population of this study is all the residents of the villages around Saholan Blue Cave, which according to the villagers and district heads are ۲۰,۰۰۰ people. The sample size was based on Cochran's formula of ۳۸۰ people and a simple random sampling method was used. Data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire.Also, descriptive statistics and univariate t-test were used to analyze the data using SPSS ۲۳ software in proportion to the level of measurement at the descriptive level and at the level of descriptive analysis. The results showed that all research hypotheses were confirmed at the level of ۰.۰۵. In other words, the development of economic, sociocultural indicators, job creation and welfare and housing infrastructure can contribute to sustainable rural development in the impossible region. As a result, Saholan Cave can provide people with the opportunity to contribute more to rural development.

Tourism, rural development, economic, socio-cultural indicators,Saholan Blue Cave