AI Usage Policy

AI Usage Policy

E-Journal of Tourism recognizes the increasing use of generative AI tools in research and academic writing. To uphold academic integrity and ensure ethical transparency, the following guidelines govern the use of AI-assisted technologies.

AI Tools Cannot Be Listed as Authors

Generative AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Gemini, DeepSeek and Claude) cannot be credited as authors under any circumstances. Authorship requires human intellectual contribution, accountability, and ethical responsibility, criteria AI tools cannot meet.

Mandatory Disclosure of AI Use

Authors must explicitly disclose any use of AI tools in the manuscript. This includes AI-assisted writing, editing, data analysis, image generation, or citation suggestions. The disclosure should appear in sections such as Acknowledgements or Methods.

Example of Disclosure

“The authors used OpenAI’s ChatGPT to edit and refine the wording of the Introduction section. All outputs were reviewed and verified by the authors.”

Human Oversight Required

While AI tools may assist with manuscript preparation, final responsibility rests solely with the human authors. All AI-generated outputs must be reviewed to ensure accuracy, originality, and compliance with research ethics.

Prohibited Uses of AI

The following practices are strictly forbidden:

1. Fabrication or falsification of research data using AI.
2. Generation of fake citations or unverifiable references.
3. Manipulation of figures, images, or data in misleading ways.
4. Use of AI to impersonate peer reviewers or compromise the peer review process.
5. Violations will result in manuscript rejection or retraction and may trigger further institutional notifications or actions.

Reviewer Use of AI

Peer reviewers must not use AI tools to assist in evaluating manuscripts without prior editorial approval. If permitted, reviewers must:

1. Disclose AI usage to the editor.
2. Ensure full confidentiality of the manuscript.
3. Accept personal responsibility for the review content.
4. Continuous Policy Review

This policy is consistent with leading international standards and draws on recommendations from:

Elsevier's Generative AI Guidelines
https://www.elsevier.com/about/policies-and-standards/generative-ai-policies-for-journals

Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Statement on AI
https://publicationethics.org/

E-Journal of Tourism will periodically update this policy to align with advancements in technology and the continual evolution of ethical norms in scholarly publishing.