EXTENDED ABSTRACT

Background and Objectives: The present study was conducted with the aim of identifying and explaining the factors affecting the physical-spatial changes in rural settlements of the Shiraz-Sepidan tourism axis with an emphasis on land use changes. Therefore, it is practical in terms of purpose and objective subjective in terms of epistemology, and it is a mixed method and simultaneous strategy in terms of method.Materials and Methods: In order to analyze the information, grounded theory and Delphi were used in the qualitative method and the single-sample t-test was used in the quantitative method.Findings: The results in the quantitative part showed that land use changes have acted as a key and determining factor in the physical-spatial changes in the villages of the Shiraz-Sepidan tourism axis. These changes have transformed the spatial, economic, social and environmental structure of these villages through complex and multi-layered mechanisms. Meanwhile, based on the results in the qualitative section using the grounded theory method, the categories: development of tourism infrastructure, land and housing market pressure, government policies and regional planning, changing livelihood patterns and local economies, booming remote work, and increasing demand for secluded places and nature as causal factors, the categories: natural and geographical features, strategic location and accessibility, cultural and social capital, demographic conditions and human resources, and economic potentials as contextual factors, and the categories: economic-livelihood, socio-cultural, environmental and physical, institutional-management, and technological-infrastructural, were extracted as effective intervening factors in the physical-spatial developments of rural settlements with an emphasis on land use changes by the interviewees.Results: The results of this research clearly show that tourism development in the Shiraz-Sepidan axis has acted like a double-edged sword.On the one hand, the creation of tourism infrastructure and improved accessibility have created new economic opportunities for local residents and brought new income generation by changing livelihood patterns from traditional agriculture to tourism-related activities. On the other hand, these developments have had significant social and environmental costs that require smart management. In explaining this phenomenon, we can point to the key role of "land use" as the connecting link between all dimensions of development. Land use change is not only a physical transformation, but also a reflection of the interaction of economic forces, government policies, and social values.The results of the study show how regional planning policies,market demand for second homes, and natural attractions have together shaped a new pattern of residence and activity in this tourism axis.This interaction and interaction of various factors has led to the formation of a complex and multi-layered texture of physical-spatial transformations.Finally,the findings of this study contain important policy messages for regional planners and managers. Success in managing rural settlement transformations requires adopting a comprehensive and integrated approach that can balance the different dimensions of development economic, social, environmental, and physical.Future planning should move towards a model of sustainable tourism development that,by accurately understanding the mechanisms affecting spatial changes, simultaneously pays attention to preserving the cultural and environmental identity of the region and provides sustainable livelihood opportunities for local communities.This research clearly shows that without considering the multidimensional consequences of land use changes, achieving balanced and sustainable development in rural areas will face serious challenges.