Rural tourism development, as an efficient tool for the dynamism of settlement systems, requires the recognition of structural and identity components. The present study aims to structurally analyze the factors affecting the development of rural tourism space in Shot County. This research is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive-analytical in terms of nature, following a deductive approach and a systemic perspective to examine four key aspects: "Structural," "Identity," "Socio-Cultural," and "Scientific-Intellectual." The data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire based on a Likert scale, distributed among 384 tourists and local residents. For data analysis and hypothesis testing, Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) using the Partial Least Squares (PLS) method was employed via SmartPLS software. The research findings indicated that all investigated dimensions have a good fit, with the "Socio-Cultural" aspect having the greatest impact on the quality of the region's tourism space (path coefficient = 0.477). Furthermore, the results show that variables such as "allocating budget to cultural projects," "creating a native visual language," and "viewing tourists as cultural ambassadors" are the most key operational strategies in the spatial structure of Shot’s tourism. A comparative analysis of the findings with national and international literature confirms the necessity of transitioning from traditional management to destination management governance with an emphasis on local authenticity. Ultimately, the results of this study can serve as a scientific framework for planners to reduce regional inequalities and facilitate the spatial restructuring of villages in Shot County.