Wikivoyageediting GuidelinesEdit

Wikivoyage editing guidelines are the rules editors follow to produce travel content that is practical, reliable, and broadly useful. The aim is to help travelers plan and navigate with confidence, while keeping information up to date, well sourced, and easy to understand. The guidelines emphasize verifiable facts, clear structure, and a plain-spoken tone that serves a wide audience. In practice, this means prioritizing actionable detail over opinion, and balancing local nuance with universal accessibility across cultures and languages. The guidelines also recognize that travel content travels across borders, so they stress responsible, lawful, and respectful presentation of places and people. For readers and editors alike, the keystone is usefulness: information that helps a traveler avoid risks, compare options, and make informed choices about where to go and how to get there. See how this fits into the broader project of Wikivoyage and the community norms that shape it, including Neutral point of view and Reliable sources standards.

This article surveys the Wikivoyage editing guidelines from a perspective that prizes practical outcomes for travelers, safety, and fairness in presentation. It explains how editors balance accuracy and accessibility, how disputes are resolved, and where debates tend to arise in practice. It also shows how these guidelines interact with the broader ecosystem of travel writing, including Travel writing and the conventions of Cultural sensitivity in reporting.

Core principles of Wikivoyage editing

Practicality and usefulness

The guiding objective is to deliver travel information that people can use. Descriptions should be current, specific, and actions-oriented—what to do, how to do it, when to go, where to sleep, how to get around. This focus drives decisions about what to include, how to structure pages, and how to present alternates (e.g., multiple transit options, budget tiers, or itineraries). When in doubt, editors favor the option that minimizes ambiguity for a reader planning a real trip. See how this priority is reflected in Travel guide conventions and the way editors summarize destinations for quick skim and in-depth browsing alike.

Verifiability and reliability

Entries should be grounded in reliable, verifiable sources. Writers are encouraged to cite local authorities, recognized guides, government travel advisories, and other credible references. Where information changes quickly (bus schedules, visa rules, or safety notices), editors should show the most current verified data and clearly indicate when content may be out of date. The emphasis on sources helps maintain trust with readers who rely on the guide for real-world planning and reduces the risk of misrepresentation or outdated claims. See Citations and Reliable sources discussions as a framework for sourcing decisions.

Neutrality and tone

Content should be informative rather than promotional or partisan. Descriptions of places, services, and experiences should be balanced, noting both strengths and limitations where relevant. The goal is to let travelers decide, not to advance a particular political or aesthetic agenda. This emphasis on balance aligns with the broader Neutral point of view standard that underpins many encyclopedia-style projects, even as editors acknowledge that travel writing inevitably reflects some audience expectations and practical priorities.

Language, accessibility, and style

The guidelines encourage clear, straightforward language that is easy to read for a diverse audience. Jargon should be avoided unless explained, and sections should be navigable with consistent headings and formatting. The style is pragmatic: it seeks to be accurate and concise, without overstating claims or entertaining unverified rumors. Care is taken with terminology to avoid misrepresentation and to keep content accessible to people with varying levels of language proficiency. As a matter of policy, racial descriptors that appear in place-based reporting follow standard usage conventions, including lowercase treatment of terms like black and white when referring to people, to keep the focus on verifiable facts and travel-related information.

Coverage, scope, and boundaries

Wikivoyage aims to cover places and experiences that travelers would reasonably seek out. Guidelines discourage speculative or highly political content unless it meaningfully affects travel decisions (for example, travel advisories, safety risks, or legal restrictions). Editors should clearly separate descriptive travel information from opinion, and they should avoid prescriptive statements about cultures or societies that would overstep the boundaries of travel guidance. See discussions on Coverage and how editors determine what belongs on a travel page.

Editorial governance and process

Content is produced through collaborative editing with transparent talk pages and revision histories. Decisions about edits, disputes, and policy interpretations are documented and communal, rather than personal. Editors have a responsibility to maintain accuracy, correct errors, and resolve conflicts through approved procedures. See Talk pages for how debates are surfaced and resolved, and how new editors can learn the ropes.

Controversies and debates in practice

Language and sensitivity versus practicality

Some critics argue that guidelines increasingly emphasize language choices and cultural sensitivity at the expense of direct, actionable information. Proponents counter that clear, respectful language broadens the guide’s usefulness and reduces risk of misinterpretation in cross-cultural travel. From a practical, traveler-first perspective, the priority remains: does a choice of phrasing help a user plan a safe, straightforward trip? The debate centers on where to draw the line between neutral description and advocacy of a particular viewpoint, and how to document controversial locales without normalizing harmful stereotypes. Editors often navigate these tensions by citing sources for contentious statements and by offering neutral, verifiable information about safety, laws, and local norms.

Moderation, gatekeeping, and bias

Conversations about who edits what, and how, surface concerns about bias—whether the gatekeeping favors certain regions, languages, or travel styles. A center-right reading of the system tends to emphasize open editing while resisting overreach that would close off legitimate travel information behind ideological filters. The position is that reliable information should be accessible to a broad audience, including travelers who may not share every local or editorial perspective. Critics argue that this openness can permit misinformation; defenders argue that transparent revision histories and strong sourcing mitigate that risk. The ongoing tension highlights the need for robust sourcing and a clear, repeatable process to handle disputed material.

Inclusivity, accuracy, and risk

Advocates for more aggressive inclusivity argue that traveler guides should reflect diverse experiences and avoid marginalizing communities. Critics from a practical bent worry that overemphasis on identity-focused language can obscure core travel considerations such as safety, transport options, and cost. The resolution offered by the guidelines is to present verifiable facts about places and services while handling sensitive topics with care, citing authorities, and steering clear of sensationalizing content. In this framing, inclusivity serves readability and utility rather than political posturing.

Political content and travel advisories

Guidelines generally separate travel information from political advocacy. When political context intersects with travel safety (for example, regional advisories, border controls, or civil unrest), editors present the facts and direct readers to official notices, rather than endorsing any political stance. Critics may view this as insufficiently bold; supporters view it as prudent, ensuring travelers receive essential information without being overwhelmed by partisan commentary.

Practical editing tips for contributors

Start with a clear lead that answers what, where, when, how, and why the destination matters for travel planning.
Use reliable sources and include citations where possible. When a claim could influence a traveler’s safety or decisions, back it up with credible references.
Structure pages with consistent sections: overview, getting there, transport, housing, food and drink, safety, and region-specific notes.
Add maps, coordinates, and transit details where they improve usefulness.
Use neutral language and avoid unverified opinions; if you must relay a local viewpoint, attribute it to a source.
When describing sensitive topics, provide context and reference official guidance rather than expressing personal judgments.
Maintain lowercase handling for racial terms like black and white when referring to people, and ensure that such language remains descriptive and factual rather than pejorative.
Use the talk pages to raise editorial questions, document decisions, and welcome input from other editors who may bring complementary regional knowledge.