Development of a Sustainable Rural Tourism Model with a Focus on Social Capital and Competitive Advantage

Rural tourism, with careful planning, can enhance the quality of life and create economic, social, and cultural benefits. The aim of this research was to present a sustainable rural tourism model with a focus on social capital. The research was applied in terms of its goal and qualitative in terms of methodology, based on the foundation data theory. The research was framed using a cognitive approach, utilizing various data collection methods such as library research, examination of specialized sources and texts, as well as semi-structured interviews. Fourteen elites, experts, and managers in tourism and rural area management were interviewed in 2023. The conducted interviews were coded using Atlas .t i software.