Unlocking the Secrets of Scholarly Literature: How “Journal Indexes” Can Elevate Your Tourism Research and Career

Introduction
Your success as a Ph.D. Research Scholar, Faculty Member, MBA, or BBA student in tourism depends on your ability to do thorough, unique research in your area of study. You must need credible academic material to do this, which is frequently located in scholarly journals. It might be difficult to know where to begin due to the overwhelming number of publications and articles that are available. Journal indexes can help with that because they offer a useful approach to look up and find pertinent scientific material. By using Journal Indexes, you can quickly and easily access the most extensive body of scholarly literature on your subject, broadening the scope of your study and raising your chances of success.

Journal Indexes Types

Databases called journal indexes let you look for papers that have been published in scientific publications. There are various kinds of indexes accessible, including transdisciplinary and subject-specific databases. If you are performing research in a specialized area of tourism, subject-specific databases are very helpful because they concentrate on a single field or specialty. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Research and Tourism Management are two examples of subject-specific databases. On the other hand, multidisciplinary indexes are helpful if your research covers several academic areas and covers a wide range of them. The transdisciplinary indexes Scopus and Web of Science are two examples. It’s vital to remember that each form of the index has specific advantages and disadvantages, so you should pick the one that best suits your study requirements.

Researching using Journal Indexes

You can start looking for papers pertaining to your research topic once you have located the right journal index. Effective search techniques, such as the use of keywords and Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT), are necessary to accomplish this. Additionally, you'll need to hone your search results by using filters like date range, publication type, and language. In order to repeat your search again, if necessary, it's critical to maintain track of your search terms and tactics.

Journal and Article Evaluation

It's crucial to assess the caliber and applicability of the information you obtain because not all journals and articles are made equal. Journal indexes can be used to evaluate a journal or article's impact factor, citation count, and other metrics. You can get a sense from this information of the significance and influence of a specific journal or article in the tourism industry. Other aspects, such as the standing of the publication, the writers' experience, and the research's applicability to your own work, should also be considered.

Journal Article Access

You'll need to access the articles you've identified in order to read and evaluate them. Journal articles can be accessed in a variety of ways, such as through open-access repositories, interlibrary loans, and institutional subscriptions. It's critical to be aware of the restrictions and constraints imposed by each technique, such as copyright laws and paywalls. Additionally, you must be aware of the moral ramifications of using other people's work, such as correctly attributing sources and avoiding plagiarism.

Popular Journal Indexes in Tourism

Journal Index	Description	Link
Scopus	The largest database of abstracts and citations for peer-reviewed literature, with over 70 million records from countless journals, books, and conference proceedings. includes in-depth coverage of publications that are relevant to tourism.	https://www.scopus.com/
Web of Science	A citation database that includes information from over 21,000 academic publications in a variety of subject areas, including tourism, and provides resources for monitoring citation trends including impact measures.	https://www.webofscience.com/
ProQuest Central	An interdisciplinary database with access to more than 39,000 scholarly publications, including journals, periodicals, and newspapers includes a huge library of articles related to tourism and hospitality.	https://www.proquest.com/central
Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ)	An online index of reputable open-access journals with peer review includes open access numerous publications about tourism.	https://doaj.org/
Hospitality & Tourism Complete	A collection of academic journals, business publications, and periodicals with a hospitality and tourism focus. It also includes information on subjects including tourism, food, and lodging.	https://www.ebscohost.com/academic/hospitality-tourism-complete
Emerald Insight	A digital library with over 300 journals in the business, management, and social sciences, many of which are in the travel and hospitality industries. It also includes content written by eminent academicians and professionals.	https://www.emerald.com/insight/
JSTOR	A digital library with scholarly publications, including books, journals, and original sources, on a variety of topics. It has an expanding library of publications on tourism.	https://www.jstor.org/
CABI Leisure Tourism Database	A comprehensive database of academic and professional articles in the fields of hospitality, tourism, leisure, and recreation. It also includes research from all over the world with an emphasis on environmentally friendly tourism / sustainable tourism.	https://www.cabi.org/leisuretourismdatabase/
Academic Search Complete	It provides access to hundreds of academic journals, periodicals, and other publications through a multidisciplinary database. It also has a wide spectrum of tourism-related studies.	https://www.ebscohost.com/academic/academic-search-complete
Google Scholar	A free, web-based search engine that catalogs the full text or other information from academic publications in a variety of fields, including tourism. Also provides access to both free and paid articles.	https://scholar.google.com/
CAB Abstracts	A bibliographic database covering agriculture and applied life sciences, including tourism.	https://www.cabdirect.org/cabdirect/search
Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI)	It is a part of the Web of Science database, ESCI provides access to journals that are in the process of being evaluated for inclusion in the prestigious Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) and Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI).	https://www.webofscience.com/sources

Note: The list of tourism-related journal indexes in the table above is not all-inclusive. It is a representative list of some of the most well-known and well-liked indices that Ph.D. researchers, academics, and students studying tourism can consult. To have a thorough comprehension of the tourism literature that is currently available, it is advised to further search other databases and indexes.

Indian UGC Care Journals

Academic publications that have been included in the University Grants Commission (UGC) of India's index are Indian UGC Care journals in tourism. These journals are acknowledged by the UGC for their contribution to scholarly study and are thought to be of high caliber. The Consortium for Academic and Research Ethics (CARE) was founded by the UGC to find and promote top-notch research articles across a range of fields, including tourism. Researchers and academics can boost the visibility and influence of their work within the Indian academic community by publishing in Indian UGC Care-indexed journals in tourism. The UGC updates its list of approved journals frequently, thus it is crucial to confirm the most recent status of a journal before submitting an article for consideration. The official website for the UGC-CARE list of journals can be accessed at https://ugccare.unipune.ac.in/site/website/ugc-list.php. This website contains the current list of UGC CARE-approved journals, including those in the field of tourism. Researchers and scholars can use this website to search for journals in their field and to verify the indexing status of a particular journal.

ABDC Journal Quality List

The Australian Business Deans Council, sometimes known as ABDC, is a group that represents business faculties in Australia and New Zealand. In order to foster research and teaching excellence in business education, it offers direction and support to its member universities. The ABDC Journal Quality List, one of its significant projects, assesses academic journals according to a variety of criteria to assist scholars in finding the most esteemed and influential journals in their field.

A comprehensive list of academic journals in many areas of business and management, including tourism, is the ABDC Journal Quality List. The list is frequently used as a resource for academic institutions, researchers, and academics to find reputable publications in their field of study. The rigor of the peer review process, the caliber of the editorial board, and other factors are taken into consideration when ranking the journals on the ABDC list. Based on their ranking score, journals are categorized into one of four tiers (A*, A, B, or C), with A* being the highest tier and C being the lowest. Being listed on the ABDC Journal Quality List is seen as a sign of excellence for journals in the field of tourism research. The ABDC list can be used by academics and researchers in the tourism industry to find reputable journals for publishing their work and gaining acknowledgment for it. The Link for the ABDC Journal Quality List is https://abdc.edu.au/research/abdc-journal-list/. Here, you can find the full list of journals and their rankings according to the ABDC criteria. However, it's crucial to remember that while the ABDC list is a useful tool for locating high-quality journals, it is not the only indicator of a journal's quality. Researchers should also consider the journal's relevance to their research topic, readership, and impact on their field.

Conclusion

In conclusion, journal indexes are crucial resources for Ph.D. researchers, faculty, MBA, and BBA students in the tourism industry who need to do high-caliber research in their sector. You may make sure that your research is based on solid and credible sources by employing efficient search techniques, assessing the caliber and relevancy of what you uncover, and ethically obtaining journal articles. Keep in mind to look through various indexes and resources, and if you need assistance, speak with professionals in the field.

My Experience of publishing in indexed Journals
One of the most fulfilling experiences of my academic career thus far has been publishing my research in indexed journals that are linked to tourism. It not only assisted me in establishing my expertise in the area, but it also gave me the opportunity to discuss my discoveries with other scholars and add to the larger academic conversation. Although publishing in indexed journals can be difficult, the effort is well worth it. I have been able to show off my research skills through my publications, grow my academic network, and learn more about my area of expertise. Aside from that, having my work published in indexed journals has given me a lot more chances, including the chances to collaborate with other researchers in tourism around the world.

Karri, V.R.S. & Dogra, J. (2022). Destination Stereotypes: Phenomenon of Destination Image. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Insights. Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/JHTI-03-2022-0111 (SCOPUS, ABDC & ESCI Indexed) RGL: https://shorturl.at/chpz9
Florido-Benítez, L. and Dogra, J. (2022). Study of relationship between Spanish Airport and Destination Marketing: Insights for Destination Management Organizations. Journal of Tourism and Development. 39, 177-200. https://doi.org/10.34624/rtd.v39i0.25485 (SCOPUS Indexed) RGL: https://shorturl.at/flNP7
Dogra, J. and Karri, V.R.S. (2021). Prominence of organic image in tourist destinations: Indian leisure tourism narrative. International Journal of Culture, Tourism and Hospitality Research, 15(4), 565-579. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCTHR-06-2020-0133 (SCOPUS, ABDC & ESCI Indexed) RGL: https://shorturl.at/bcuO4
Bayram, A. T., Kavlak, H. T., Dogra, J., & Bayram, G. E. (2020). Hopelessness against desire to pursue a career in tourism: An empirical analysis of Sinop University, Turkey. Turyzm/Tourism, 30(2), 115-123. https://doi.org/10.18778/0867-5856.30.2.27 (SCOPUS Indexed) RGL: https://shorturl.at/fqy25
Dogra, J., & Karri, V.R.S. (2020). Trustworthiness of inbound tourists on social media platforms towards destination choice. Turizam, 24(3), 101-112. https://doi.org/10.5937/turizam24-24952 (UGC-Care List, India) RGL: https://shorturl.at/puxG6
Dogra, Jeet., & Kale, S. S. (2020). Network Analysis of Destination Management Organization Smart Tourism Ecosystem (STE) for E-Branding and Marketing of Tourism Destinations. In Ramos, C. M., Almeida, C. R., & Fernandes, P. O. (Ed.), Handbook of Research on Social Media Applications for the Tourism and Hospitality Sector (pp. 1-16). IGI Global. http://doi:10.4018/978-1-7998-1947-9.ch001 (SCOPUS Indexed) RGL: https://shorturl.at/dtFY6
Manhas, P., & Dogra, Jeet. (2013). Quality Management Practices and Tourism Destination Branding: Inter-relationship and Preferential Study of the Components. Journal of Service Research, 13(1). 75-93. ISSN: 0972-4702 (UGC-Care List, India). RGL: https://shorturl.at/bkrzR
Manhas, P., & Dogra, Jeet. (2011). Hospitality and tourism management graduates expectations: Future implications for the educators. Journal of Tourism, XII(1), 103 – 112. ISSN: 0972-7310 (UGC-Care List, India). RGL: https://shorturl.at/fzR37

Note: For full-text copies of the research papers mentioned above or to collaborate on joint research work, please feel free to contact me at jeetdograa@gmail.com

Wishing you success with your study...!!