Publication Ethics & Malpractice Statement

Journal of Tourism and Gastronomy Studies (JOTAGS) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity, ethical publishing, and professional responsibility. The journal adheres to internationally recognized ethical principles in scholarly publishing and follows the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

All parties involved in the publication process—including authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher—are expected to comply with ethical standards regarding originality, transparency, confidentiality, and accountability.

Research Ethics and Ethics Committee Approval

Ethics Committee approval is required for studies that involve data collection from human participants or the use of human or animal subjects for scientific purposes. Such studies include, but are not limited to, research conducted through surveys, interviews, focus groups, observations, experiments, or clinical and experimental research involving humans or animals, as well as retrospective studies conducted in accordance with applicable personal data protection laws.

In addition, authors must ensure that:

  • In case studies, informed consent has been obtained and clearly stated in the manuscript,
  • Permission has been obtained and appropriately acknowledged for the use of scales, questionnaires, photographs, or other materials developed by third parties,
  • Compliance with copyright regulations is indicated for all intellectual and artistic works used.

For studies conducted before 2020 or research derived from master’s or doctoral theses, retrospective Ethics Committee approval is not required, provided that this information is clearly stated in the manuscript.

Authors’ Responsibilities

Authors must ensure that their submissions:

  • Are original works that have not been previously published or submitted elsewhere,
  • Accurately present research findings without fabrication, falsification, or manipulation of data,
  • Properly acknowledge all sources and contributions through appropriate citation,
  • Disclose any conflicts of interest that may influence the research or its interpretation,
  • Comply with ethical standards related to human participants, if applicable.

Ethics Declaration Form

As part of the submission process, authors are required to complete and submit the Ethics Declaration Form together with their manuscript. Manuscripts submitted without the Ethics Declaration Form will not be considered for peer review.

Editors’ Responsibilities

  • Making publication decisions based solely on academic merit, originality, and relevance to the journal’s scope,
  • Ensuring a fair, unbiased, and confidential review process,
  • Preventing and managing conflicts of interest,
  • Taking appropriate action in cases of suspected ethical misconduct, in accordance with COPE guidelines.

Reviewers’ Responsibilities

  • Evaluate manuscripts objectively and constructively,
  • Maintain confidentiality of all materials under review,
  • Identify relevant published work not cited by the authors,
  • Report any ethical concerns or potential misconduct to the editors.

Ethical Misconduct and Corrective Actions

In cases of suspected or confirmed ethical misconduct—including plagiarism, data fabrication, falsification, or other unethical research practices—the journal reserves the right to take appropriate corrective actions, including manuscript rejection, article retraction, or publication of corrections, in accordance with COPE guidelines.

Complaints and Appeals

Authors and readers may submit complaints or appeals regarding editorial decisions, peer review, or ethical concerns by contacting the Editorial Office at editor@jotags.org. All complaints are acknowledged within 10 working days and handled confidentially. Appeals are evaluated by the Editor and/or an independent Editorial Board member when necessary, and decisions are communicated with a clear rationale.