The International Journal of Tourism Research (IJTR), a Wiley-published academic journal, has come under scrutiny for unusual citation patterns following the appointment of Timothy J. Lee as its editor-in-chief in 2023. According to institutional records, Lee was appointed to lead IJTR in May 2023 with the aim of elevating its Journal Citation Reports ranking to Q1 and increasing its impact factor significantly within three years.
Recently, an author from the University of Siena raised concerns about delayed peer review and publication outcomes after waiting over 18 months for feedback on a submission to IJTR. Frustrated by the rejection of his manuscript, the researcher suggested in email communication with the journal board that greater citation of the editor’s work might have influenced paper handling. Shortly thereafter, an editorial board member resigned in protest, criticizing the journal’s editorial process.
An analysis of data drawn from Clarivate’s Web of Science reveals that IJTR’s 2024 output included a high share of articles citing Lee’s publications: roughly 72% of the 186 papers published that year referenced his work, often multiple times. From 2024 to early 2026, more than half of the journal’s papers contained at least one citation to the editor’s research. These figures span authors based both in China and internationally.
Lee has responded to questions about these trends by noting that many submissions originate from researchers in China and asserting that there is no formal requirement to cite his work. A spokesperson for Wiley confirmed the publisher is aware of concerns about citation patterns and has implemented additional screening to help maintain journal quality.
The situation has led to broader discussion in the scholarly community about editorial oversight and citation dynamics. While there is no documented evidence that Lee explicitly pressured authors to include his work, some colleagues argue that such citation patterns raise questions about how editorial leadership and academic incentives intersect. The IJTR itself continues to be listed as a Q1 journal in Journal Citation Reports, with recent metrics showing a strong impact factor and ranking within its field.