Correction and Retraction Policy

1. General Principles

The Journal of Tourism Sustainability (JTOS), published by Politeknik Negeri Bandung, is committed to maintaining the accuracy, reliability, transparency, and integrity of the scholarly record.

JTOS recognizes that errors, inaccuracies, and concerns regarding research integrity may be identified after an article has been published.

The journal provides mechanisms for correcting, clarifying, and, when necessary, retracting published articles in accordance with recognized standards of publication ethics.

This policy is informed by the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), including its Retraction Guidelines updated in 2025.

The primary purpose of corrections and retractions is to preserve the integrity of the scholarly record, rather than to punish authors.

2. Scope of the Policy

This policy applies to all scholarly articles published in JTOS, including articles published in regular and special issues.

It covers concerns related to:

Errors in published research findings.
Incorrect data, calculations, tables, or figures.
Inaccurate or incomplete publication metadata.
Authorship and attribution errors.
Plagiarism and redundant publication.
Research data fabrication or falsification.
Unethical research practices.
Compromised peer-review processes.
Undisclosed conflicts of interest.
Other serious concerns affecting publication integrity.

3. Reporting Errors and Concerns

Authors, readers, reviewers, editors, institutions, and other concerned parties may report errors or concerns regarding published articles.

Reports should be submitted to:

Editorial Office
Journal of Tourism Sustainability (JTOS)
Politeknik Negeri Bandung
Email: jtos@polban.ac.id

The report should include:

The title and DOI or URL of the article concerned.
A description of the identified error or concern.
Relevant evidence or supporting documentation.
An explanation of the potential effect on the accuracy or integrity of the published article.
Contact information for follow-up communication, where available.

Anonymous reports may be considered when they contain credible and verifiable information.

4. Corrections to Published Articles

JTOS may issue a formal correction when an error or omission affects the accuracy, clarity, or interpretation of a published article but does not invalidate its overall findings and conclusions.

Corrections may be appropriate for:

Incorrect numerical values or statistical calculations that do not invalidate the principal findings.
Errors in tables, figures, or supplementary materials that require clarification.
Incorrect author names, affiliations, or contributor information.
Inaccurate citations or bibliographic information requiring substantive correction.
Omitted acknowledgments, funding information, or conflict-of-interest disclosures.
Other material errors that can be corrected without compromising the overall reliability of the published research.

The editorial team will determine whether a correction is necessary based on the significance of the error and its implications for the scholarly record.

5. Correction Procedures

When an error requiring formal correction is identified, JTOS will ordinarily follow these procedures:

Notification: The editorial office receives a report or identifies an error.
Assessment: The responsible editor evaluates the nature and significance of the error.
Author Consultation: The corresponding author may be contacted to provide clarification or supporting evidence.
Editorial Decision: The Editor-in-Chief or designated editor determines whether a correction is appropriate.
Publication: A correction notice is published when necessary.
Linking: The correction notice is linked to the original article wherever technically feasible.

A formal correction notice should identify the original article and explain the changes made.

Material changes to the published record must be documented transparently rather than silently replacing the original publication.

6. Minor Editorial Corrections

Minor typographical, formatting, or presentation errors that do not affect the scholarly meaning, interpretation, or reliability of the article may be corrected administratively.

Where such changes are made after publication, JTOS will maintain appropriate records of the modifications.

Corrections that materially affect the interpretation or attribution of published research require a transparent public notice.

7. Retraction of Published Articles

JTOS may retract a published article when reliable evidence demonstrates that its findings or conclusions cannot be relied upon, or when serious publication integrity violations warrant retraction.

Retraction may be considered in cases involving:

Fabrication or falsification of research data.
Major errors that render the research findings or conclusions unreliable.
Substantial plagiarism or unauthorized appropriation of intellectual works.
Redundant or duplicate publication without appropriate justification or disclosure.
Research conducted or reported in serious violation of applicable ethical requirements.
Manipulated, fabricated, or compromised peer-review processes.
Serious misrepresentation of authorship, research procedures, or scientific evidence.
Other substantial problems that compromise the reliability or integrity of the published scholarly record.

Retraction may be warranted whether the underlying problem results from research misconduct or an honest error.

A disagreement over scholarly interpretation alone is not sufficient grounds for retraction.

8. Retraction Procedures

When serious concerns regarding a published article arise, JTOS will conduct an appropriate editorial assessment.

The process may include:

Preliminary Assessment: Reviewing the reported concern and available supporting evidence.
Documentation: Preserving relevant publication records and editorial correspondence.
Author Notification: Informing the authors of substantive concerns and providing a reasonable opportunity to respond.
Evidence Evaluation: Assessing explanations, research documentation, and other available evidence.
Institutional Cooperation: Contacting relevant research institutions when formal investigation is necessary.
Editorial Decision: Determining whether the published article requires correction, an expression of concern, retraction, or no further action.
Publication of Notice: Publishing an appropriate notice when retraction is warranted.

The final editorial decision regarding retraction rests with the Editor-in-Chief or an appropriately independent editor when a conflict of interest exists.

The publisher may support the investigation and implementation of the decision while respecting editorial independence.

9. Retraction Notices

When an article is retracted, JTOS will publish a clear, accessible, and appropriately identified retraction notice.

The notice should:

Be clearly identified as a Retraction.
Identify the title and authors of the affected article.
Provide a complete citation and DOI of the original article, where available.
Explain the reasons for retraction clearly and accurately.
Identify the party issuing the retraction.
Distinguish confirmed misconduct from honest error when supported by the available evidence.
Be freely accessible to readers.
Be linked to the original article.

The original article will ordinarily remain accessible in the journal archive with a prominent indication of its retracted status.

Retraction notices should be issued promptly once the editorial decision has been established.

10. Expressions of Concern

JTOS may publish an Expression of Concern when serious questions have been raised about a published article but the available evidence is insufficient to justify immediate retraction.

An Expression of Concern may be appropriate when:

A significant investigation remains ongoing.
Substantial evidence raises doubts about the reliability of an article, but a final conclusion has not yet been reached.
Relevant institutional investigations are delayed or inconclusive.
Readers should be informed of unresolved concerns that may affect their interpretation of the published research.

An Expression of Concern does not automatically establish that research misconduct has occurred.

The notice will be linked to the affected article and may be updated or superseded following the outcome of further assessment.

11. Authorship and Metadata Corrections

Requests to correct author names, affiliations, contributor information, or other publication metadata will be reviewed according to the nature and significance of the requested change.

Substantive authorship changes may require written confirmation from all affected authors and supporting documentation.

Authorship disputes will be managed in accordance with the JTOS Authorship Criteria and relevant publication ethics guidance.

A disagreement concerning authorship does not automatically justify retraction when the research findings remain reliable.

12. Article Preservation and Version Control

JTOS is committed to preserving the scholarly record and maintaining transparent documentation of post-publication changes.

Original publications and their associated correction, expression of concern, or retraction notices should remain accessible and appropriately linked.

Where relevant and technically supported, JTOS will update article landing pages, publication files, and indexing metadata to reflect the current publication status.

The journal will avoid unexplained deletion or replacement of published scientific content.

Removal of published content will be considered only under exceptional circumstances, including compelling legal, privacy, or safety requirements.

13. DOI and Indexing Metadata

JTOS recognizes the importance of accurate digital identifiers and publication metadata in maintaining the scholarly record.

When corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions are published, the journal will seek to maintain clear links between the original article and the related notice.

Where supported by the journal's publishing infrastructure, appropriate publication status and relationship metadata will be updated or deposited with relevant indexing and DOI registration services.

Retracted articles should remain identifiable through their original DOI, together with clear information about their retracted status.

14. Responsibilities of Authors

Authors are responsible for promptly notifying JTOS when they discover substantial errors or inaccuracies in their published work.

Authors are expected to:

Cooperate with reasonable editorial requests for clarification.
Provide relevant research data or documentation when appropriate.
Participate in necessary correction procedures.
Disclose significant errors affecting the reliability of published findings.
Cooperate with justified editorial actions intended to protect the scholarly record.

Authors' disagreement with a proposed correction or retraction does not necessarily prevent the journal from taking appropriate editorial action when supported by sufficient evidence.

15. Fairness and Confidentiality

JTOS will address allegations and post-publication concerns fairly, impartially, and confidentially.

Authors will be given a reasonable opportunity to respond to substantive concerns before final editorial action is taken, except where urgent action is necessary to address significant risks.

Editors responsible for handling correction or retraction cases must disclose relevant conflicts of interest.

Cases involving conflicted editors will be assigned to an appropriately independent editorial representative.

Decisions will be based on the reliability of the published work and the available evidence, rather than personal, institutional, or commercial interests.

16. Appeals and Reconsideration

Authors or other directly affected parties may submit a reasoned appeal against a correction or retraction decision.

Appeals should provide relevant new evidence or identify significant factual or procedural concerns requiring reconsideration.

Where practicable, appeals will be reviewed by an editor or representative not directly responsible for the initial decision.

An appeal does not automatically suspend necessary measures to protect readers or the integrity of the scholarly record.

17. Policy Review

JTOS may periodically review this policy to reflect developments in scholarly publishing, research integrity, and publication ethics.

The journal remains committed to transparency, accountability, and the responsible management of published scientific information.

Correction and Retraction Statement

JTOS is committed to correcting the scholarly record when errors are identified and retracting published articles when their findings are demonstrably unreliable or serious publication integrity violations warrant retraction.

Corrections and retractions are implemented to protect the reliability, transparency, and integrity of published research, rather than to impose punitive measures against authors.