TConnect: Journal of Tourism Connectivity is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity, originality, transparency, and responsible research. To protect the intellectual contributions of researchers and the integrity of the scholarly record, all submitted manuscripts are subject to originality screening before or during the editorial evaluation process.

1. Originality Screening

All submitted manuscripts may be screened using recognized similarity-detection tools, such as Turnitin or iThenticate, as part of the initial editorial assessment.

The Managing Editor or designated editorial team member may review the similarity report and assess the nature and sources of detected similarities before determining whether further action is required.

A similarity report is an editorial screening tool and does not, by itself, constitute a determination of plagiarism.

2. Similarity Threshold

As a general guideline, manuscripts submitted to TConnect should have a similarity index of 15% or lower.

Where technically available, the screening process may exclude:

• Reference lists or bibliographies;
• Properly cited direct quotations;
• Common technical terminology and standard phrases; and
• Minor individual matches below the configured threshold.

The editorial team may apply appropriate judgment when interpreting similarity results. A manuscript with a similarity score below 15% may still contain inappropriate plagiarism, while a manuscript with a higher score may contain legitimate overlap resulting from quotations, technical terminology, methodology, or other acceptable sources.

3. Handling of Similarity Concerns

Similarity of 16%–25%

Manuscripts within this range may be returned to the authors for clarification, revision, or appropriate paraphrasing before proceeding to peer review. The editorial team will assess the sources and nature of the similarities rather than relying solely on the numerical score.

Authors may be required to submit a revised manuscript for additional originality screening.

Similarity Above 25%

Manuscripts with a similarity index above 25% will normally undergo further editorial assessment. Where substantial unattributed overlap or other evidence of plagiarism is identified, the manuscript may be desk rejected and will not proceed to peer review.

Serious Academic Misconduct

Cases involving substantial plagiarism, deliberate plagiarism, duplicate publication, data fabrication, data falsification, copyright infringement, or other serious forms of research misconduct may result in rejection or other appropriate editorial action.

If serious misconduct is identified after publication, TConnect may issue a correction, expression of concern, or retraction, depending on the circumstances. The journal may also restrict future submissions where serious and deliberate misconduct has been established.

4. Artificial Intelligence and Digital Authorship

TConnect recognizes that artificial intelligence (AI) tools are increasingly used in academic research and scholarly communication. The journal supports responsible use of AI while maintaining the principle that human authors remain fully responsible for the content, accuracy, originality, integrity, and ethical conduct of their research.

AI Tools Cannot Be Authors

Large Language Models and other AI systems, including tools such as ChatGPT or Claude, cannot be listed as authors or co-authors. AI systems cannot assume responsibility for the accuracy, integrity, originality, or ethical implications of a scholarly work.

Permitted Uses of AI

Authors may use AI-assisted tools for appropriate purposes, including:

• Language improvement and copyediting;
• Grammar and spelling correction;
• Translation;
• Improving readability and clarity;
• Assistance with coding or computational tasks; and
• Data analysis or other research-support activities where scientifically appropriate.

Authors remain responsible for independently verifying all AI-assisted outputs.

Disclosure of AI Use

Any substantive use of AI that contributes to the research process, analysis, interpretation, or generation of manuscript content should be transparently disclosed.

The disclosure should identify, where relevant:

• The AI tool or system used;
• The purpose for which it was used; and
• The stage of the research or manuscript preparation in which it was used.

Routine spelling, grammar, or formatting assistance generally does not require a detailed disclosure unless the use materially affects the manuscript.

Human Responsibility

Authors must critically evaluate AI-generated or AI-assisted content and remain fully responsible for the final manuscript. Authors are responsible for verifying references, factual claims, data interpretation, calculations, quotations, and other scholarly content produced or assisted by AI.

AI-generated content must not be presented as original human scholarship without appropriate disclosure and substantive human intellectual contribution.

Confidentiality and Sensitive Data

Authors must not enter confidential, personally identifiable, proprietary, unpublished, or otherwise sensitive research data into AI systems where doing so could compromise participant privacy, intellectual property, confidentiality, or research ethics.

Authors must ensure that the use of AI complies with applicable data-protection, research-ethics, and confidentiality requirements.

5. Editorial Assessment

The editorial team reserves the right to request clarification regarding originality, authorship, AI use, research data, or other aspects of research integrity at any stage of the publication process.

Through this policy, TConnect: Journal of Tourism Connectivity seeks to promote responsible innovation while protecting originality, transparency, human scholarly responsibility, and the integrity of the academic record.