The International Journal of Tourism Cities (IJTC) is a leading platform for research and publishing in the tourism sector, providing an opportunity for researchers and the academic community from around the world to share their ideas and findings. If you are planning to publish your paper in this prestigious journal, it is essential that you understand its process, ethical responsibilities and technical terms thoroughly. The entire process is presented in detail below in human and simple language.
Pre-publication Responsibilities and Contacts
If you have submitted your paper and it is still in the decision process, you will have to contact the Journal Editor or Editorial Office for any kind of information. On the other hand, if your article has been accepted, contact the Supplier Project Manager for the subsequent process. All their details are given in the “Editorial Team” section of the journal’s website.
Author Responsibilities: An Ethical and Professional Obligation
Every author has a duty to act with integrity, transparency, and responsibility throughout the publication process. Some of your key responsibilities are:
- Promptly respond to any questions received during the publication process.
- Take full responsibility for your research, including ensuring the accuracy and objectivity of the research.
- Keep communications with the editor confidential until a final editorial decision is made.
Research Ethics for Authors
According to the IJTC, only those individuals who have made a meaningful and substantial contribution should be included as co-authors in the article. Those who have made no real contribution should not be associated with the research.
AI Tools and Authorship
Amidst the growing technological advancement, there is also a special rule that any Large Language Model (such as GPT etc.) cannot be recognized as an author, as they are not capable of conceptualizing the research-design or taking responsibility for its ethics and truth. However, if AI tools have been used to improve the article in terms of grammar or language, then it is mandatory to mention it, but it will be acceptable only if its use is limited to editing.
Special instructions for research based on human participants
If your research has involved human participants in any way, then you must check whether ethical approval is required for your study or not. If necessary, its approval report is mandatory to be attached with the research paper.
Clear guidelines on the use of generative AI
Emerald Publications has some strict rules on the use of generative AI:
- Copyrighted portions of any article, abstract or literature review cannot be generated using AI.
- Reporting of results or statistical analysis using AI is also not allowed.
- AI can be used to improve language, but the author must take responsibility for the original article.
Originality and copyright of research
Your research must be completely original. If you have previously submitted a similar article to another journal or conference, it is necessary to inform the editor. IJTC uses techniques such as Crossref Similarity Check to check if the article has already been published.
In addition:
- The article must not be simultaneously submitted to another journal.
- You must obtain written permission before including any content created by a third party.
- It is the author’s responsibility to ensure that no copyright infringement occurs.
Open Access Options: Gold and Green Route
IJTC offers two types of open access publishing options:
- Gold Open Access: In this option, the article is available to the general public immediately after publication, but for this the author has to pay APC (Article Processing Charge). This fee varies according to the journal.
- Green Open Access: If you do not have the budget to pay APC, you can choose the green route. On this path, you can make the “Accepted Manuscript” of your article available to the public for free.
TOP Guidelines for Transparency and Authenticity of Research
IJTC follows Transparency and Openness Promotion (TOP) Guidelines, which makes replication of research easy and reliable. Authors are encouraged to:
- Properly cite all data, program code, and methods used.
- Present data with a permanent digital identity (e.g. DOI).
- Comply with privacy, data protection, and national-international regulations.
Manuscript preparation and editing assistance
If you need language or technical assistance before submitting your paper, IJTC has partnered with a platform called Editage. This service is optional and using it does not guarantee acceptance of the article, but it may be helpful in giving your article a more mature look.
Conclusion: Submit research with quality, ethics, and transparency
Publishing in the International Journal of Tourism CitiesThe process of is not only professional but also gives utmost importance to research quality, ethics and transparency. If you are a responsible author, this journal can be the best medium to present your research on a global platform. Every step taken in this direction – be it writing, editing or publishing – leads to an excellent research culture.
