Rural development in recent decades has faced numerous challenges and, in many countries, has followed a declining trend. Changes in global production networks and the expansion of urbanization have transformed the character of rural areas in contrast to urban centers, leading to a reduction in their economic and social capacity. In Iran, although various strategies have been implemented since the 1950s to achieve rural development, poverty, low income, inadequate social infrastructure and services, and excessive migration to cities remain among the fundamental problems of rural communities. Against this backdrop, tourism has emerged as one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing industries, offering significant potential for the economic revitalization of rural areas. The rapid growth of tourism has diversified products and destinations, thereby creating new demands that foster small and medium-sized enterprises and promote entrepreneurship in rural communities. This study examined the effects and implications of tourist accommodations on improving economic indicators in the rural settlements of the central region of Gilan Province. The statistical population consisted of 46 villages with high tourism potential across six counties in the region. Data were collected through questionnaires, and the sample size was determined using Cochran’s formula, resulting in 384 questionnaires distributed proportionally among the selected villages. The collected data were analyzed using the one-sample t-test and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) in SPSS. The findings revealed, enhanced economic power and purchasing ability of villagers, sustainable income growth, promotion and branding of local products, seasonal income growth, and women’s employment in service sectors—showed above-average influence in both models, underscoring their significant role in the economic development of rural settlements.