Reviewing articles for tourism and hospitality journals: an altruistic academic tradition or a service to be paid for?

Abstract

Tourism and hospitality journals – just as in other disciplines - have adopted a voluntary model of the peer review system. This paper argues that under the changing circumstances and norms, a transition to a commercial model should be considered. Such a model is expected to significantly reduce the problems associated with the current voluntary model such as the 'tragedy of the reviewer commons' and the 'free-rider problem', and relieve the heavy burden on journal editors of finding suitable referees to review articles. A commercial model is also an ethically preferred option since within its framework reviewers are properly rewarded for their expertise, energy, and time. The proposal is likely to encounter opposition from those who view the voluntary system as an enlightened academic tradition, but a careful examination of the subject suggests that the commercial model has real potential to solve many of the problems that characterise the current broken model.