Tourism Research Journal (TRJ) permits the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) in research and manuscript preparation. Authors, reviewers, and editors must uphold academic integrity, transparency, confidentiality, and human accountability.

 

Authorship and Responsibility

AI tools cannot be listed as authors or co-authors. Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, references, and integrity of all submitted content, including material prepared with AI assistance.

 

Permitted and Prohibited Uses

AI may assist with language editing, translation, literature searches, coding, data analysis, and conceptual illustrations under human supervision. Authors must verify all outputs and original sources.

AI must not be used to fabricate data, participant statements, findings, or references; conceal plagiarism; manipulate results; or present synthetic images as authentic research evidence. Synthetic research materials must be clearly identified and methodologically justified.

 

Disclosure

Authors must disclose generative AI use in the cover letter and a Declaration of AI Use before the references. The declaration must identify the tool and version, where available, its purpose, the sections affected, and the authors’ verification process.

AI use in data collection or analysis must also be explained in the Methods section with sufficient detail to assess the procedures and findings. Basic spelling checks, reference management, and automated formatting do not require disclosure unless they generate substantive content.

 

Confidentiality and Data Protection

Users must not upload personal data, confidential information, unpublished manuscripts, or restricted research materials to AI services without appropriate authorization and adequate safeguards. Authors must respect participant consent, applicable ethics requirements, and community knowledge rights.

 

Peer Review and Editorial Decisions

Reviewers must obtain editorial permission before using AI to assist their review. Reviewers and editors must use only journal-approved tools with adequate confidentiality safeguards and obtain authors’ consent before transferring manuscript content to third-party AI services.

Human reviewers and editors remain responsible for all assessments and publication decisions. The journal will disclose substantive editorial uses of AI.

 

Compliance

TRJ may request supporting records to assess suspected misuse. AI detection scores alone will not establish misconduct. Authors will have an opportunity to respond. Depending on the evidence and severity, editorial action may include revision, rejection, correction, or retraction.