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Wikivoyage PolicyEdit

Wikivoyage Policy is the framework that governs how content is created, edited, and presented on Wikivoyage, the free, crowd-sourced travel guide. It is designed to deliver practical, up-to-date information that helps travelers plan trips efficiently and safely, while keeping the material accessible to a broad audience. The policy covers what kinds of content belong on the site, how articles should be written, how disputes are resolved, and how contributions are licensed and shared with others. As a result, readers can expect concise, verifiable guidance that readers can act on when they are on the road, whether they are seeking transportation tips, lodging options, or local safety considerations. For the broader project, see Wikivoyage and the related policy framework that shapes how information is curated across regions and language editions.

From a practical, results-oriented perspective, Wikivoyage Policy emphasizes clarity, reliability, and the usefulness of information for real-world travel. It favors direct descriptions of places, transit routes, costs, and time estimates over long chapters of opinion or abstract theory about travel. The policy also recognizes that travel planning is inherently dynamic; editors are encouraged to update data promptly as conditions change, such as opening hours, transport schedules, and visa requirements. In this regard, the system leans toward a lean, user-friendly style that minimizes friction for readers who want to get from planning to boarding quickly. See Travel guide for the concept of what Wikivoyage seeks to provide, and Reliability for how editors assess the trustworthiness of information.

Core principles

  • Practicality and usefulness: articles should help readers complete concrete travel tasks, such as finding routes, understanding costs, and assessing safety. See Actionable information and Transpor t guidance.
  • Verifiability: statements should be supported by reliable sources or firsthand, recent experience that readers can verify. See Reliable sources and firsthand information.
  • Neutral presentation: material should describe options without endorsing one over another, focusing on facts, options, and outcomes rather than advocacy. See Neutral point of view and Policy on promotional content.
  • No original research: content should reflect what can be observed, reported, or documented by others, not the editor’s own musings. See No original research.
  • Accessibility and openness: content should be easy to read and use by a broad audience, including travelers with different levels of skill and experience. See Plain language and Wikivoyage:Editing guidelines.
  • Respect for licensing and reuse: contributed material is shared under an open license to encourage reuse, translation, and adaptation. See Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike and License.

Editorial framework and governance

Wikivoyage relies on a collaborative editing model where volunteers write, review, and revise entries. Changes are tracked, discussed, and resolved through community processes that aim to be transparent and predictable. The policy supports mechanisms to revert vandalism, resolve disputes, and prevent misleading edits, while protecting editors from arbitrary punishment for reasonable editorial judgments. Articles should reflect current conditions and local knowledge, with citations when appropriate. See Vandalism and Wikivoyage:Editorial guidelines for how edits are managed and disagreements resolved.

Content standards and structure

  • Structure and navigability: articles should present a clear structure with practical sections such as Getting there, Getting around, Costs, Where to stay, and What to see. See Article structure for typical Wikivoyage layouts.
  • Language and tone: the writing should be straightforward and informative, avoiding sensationalism and overly promotional language. See Tone and style for concrete guidance.
  • Local accuracy: information about places should reflect current realities, including transportation options, hours, and safety considerations. See Local knowledge and Travel safety.
  • Sensitivity and inclusivity: content should avoid clichés or stereotypes while remaining focused on traveler needs. The standard here is to be respectful of places and people while keeping the travel utility intact.

Licensing, copyright, and reuse

Wikivoyage content is shared under an open license that allows others to reuse, translate, and adapt material while giving proper attribution. This licensing framework supports broad use by travelers, publishers, and developers who want to build upon the material. See Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike and Copyright policy for the specifics, and Wikivoyage:Copyright for how these rules are applied in practice.

Controversies and debates

Critics within the broader community sometimes argue that policy decisions shift too much toward standardized, minimalist content, at times sacrificing cultural nuance or the texture of place in the name of clarity. From this perspective, the push for uniform article structure and tight editorial control can feel like gatekeeping that dulls traveler voice and on-the-ground realism. Proponents respond that a lean, reliable, and comparable body of information is precisely what travelers need to make quick, informed decisions, and that structure does not preclude useful detail when it is available. They argue that the core duty is accuracy and usefulness, not niche advocacy or rhetorical flourish.

Some debates center on how to handle sensitive or controversial topics that arise in travel writing, such as safety concerns, political tensions, or historical contexts. Supporters of a stricter, fact-focused approach say the priority should be clear, verified information that helps travelers avoid risk, even if that reduces some descriptive depth. Critics contend that overly cautious moderation can suppress legitimate traveler experiences or regional perspectives. From a practical, results-oriented standpoint, the policy aims to balance safety and accuracy with the freedom to describe diverse places honestly, without turning every topic into a protracted ideological debate. In this framing, criticisms that label policy as suppressive are viewed as overstatements, since the core aim is to empower travelers with reliable data rather than curate ideology.

See also