One of the reasons behind the backwardness of rural areas is the limited economic development options. Livelihoods and their income are also provided by traditional methods. Tourism development is an important rural development strategy that can play an important role in sustainable rural development and, consequently, sustainable livelihood in rural households. Therefore, the present study examined the effects of ecotourism development on the sustainability of livelihoods and activities of rural households. The present research is a descriptive-analytical one. Data were collected using questionnaires and interviews with rural households. The statistical population of the rural households of the pope is Khorramabad city (N = 2346). Using the Cochran formula, a sample of 330 households was selected as sample. For analysis of data, ANOVA, multiple regression and path analysis were used. The findings showed that there is a coherent and meaningful relationship between the development of ecotourism and the sustainability of livelihoods and activities of rural households. So that ecotourism development has increased the sustainability of livelihood activities of rural households. The greatest overall impact of ecotourism development on sustainable livelihoods was related to economic sustainability (581) and the least effect on environmental sustainability (0.378). Therefore, it can be argued that the development of ecotourism while developing local economies and the sustainability of rural household livelihoods can lead to sustainable rural development. The results of this research can be used to increase the livelihood sustainability of rural households in the study area and other rural areas of the country.
Keywords: Rural tourism, Ecotourism, Sustainable livelihood, Rural development, Khorramabad city.