Rural tourism has been widely recognized as a means of promoting the revival of traditional villages and has been supported by numerous researchers. It has the potential to provide significant social and economic advantages, making it a popular strategy for rural development in both developed and developing countries. Nevertheless, a growing body of research has substantiated the significant disruptions that rural tourism has imposed on traditional villages. This study employed the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) qualitative method to systematically analyze 92 papers from WOS and SCOPUS that investigate the impact of rural tourism on traditional villages. The papers were categorized into five groups: spatial, economic, sociocultural, and holistic. This categorization allowed for the identification of the purpose, theme, sub-topics, research methods, and data sources used in these papers, which in turn provided an overview of the characteristics and overall trends in research in this field. It compensates for the deficiencies of lesser reviews that just emphasize rural tourism as the primary catalyst for the sustainable development of traditional villages. Based on a thorough investigation, this paper asserts that the development of tourism in traditional villages should be differentiated from typical rural tourism sites that prioritize the preferences of tourists. The primary objective should be to prioritize the preservation of community values, with a strong emphasis on community participation. This should be done while considering the interests of various stakeholders and promoting a diverse range of livelihoods that are rooted in traditional practices. By doing so, the essence of authenticity in traditional villages can be reinforced, leading to a greater sense of connection and loyalty among tourists. The preservation of traditional village genes fosters a symbiotic relationship with rural tourism, resulting in a mutually beneficial cycle.

Traditional villages are the convergence points for rural tourism and cultural heritage, with their uniqueness deriving from their enduring cultural genes. Villagers serve as the continuators of traditional villages, the transmitters of cultural heritage, and active participants in rural tourism, all predisposing villagers to adopt key positions in these areas. However, villager-centered research has not been systematically explored. This gap may be due to the marginalization of villagers in developing rural tourism and cultural heritage, the challenges associated with measuring villager-centered impacts, and the lack of appropriate measurement tools. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a scale to assess the impact of rural tourism on villagers. Using Shangzhuang Village and Guoyu Village in China as case studies, a total of 305 samples were collected. Through construct dimensions, potential item generation, scale purification, Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), and reliability and validity testing, a villager-centered tourism impact scale was established, encompassing 13 items across three dimensions: economic, social, and cultural. The findings provide a new tool for village leaders, tourism developers, and policymakers to effectively incorporate villagers’ perspectives into rural tourism and heritage preservation efforts, contributing to the sustainable development of traditional villages and their associated tourism.