The full or partial '''content''' of any article can be deleted at any time, by any user. That's not to say that it ''should'' be deleted, but each user can delete article text. Only administrators can delete '''the article's title and entry''' on the site, though.
'''Article entries''' should be deleted from the site when...
Article entries ''should not'' be deleted from the site when a legitimate article can be written for the subject. Some examples:
In these cases, rather than deleting the article, its text should initially be replaced by a stub and later with a real article.
Redirecting non-articles, when possible, is usually preferred to deletion because a) anyone can make a redirect and b) redirects may help with search engine optimization. The rule of thumb is, if it is a real place, redirect rather than delete. Major attractions and geographical areas can and should be redirected, but articles about restaurants, bars, hotels, and other such commercial establishments should be deleted rather than redirected, in order to curb touting.
Unlike articles, images and other media can't easily be edited within the Wiki. For this reason, it's more reasonable to delete them than articles.
Some reasons to delete images are:
# First verify that the article or image really is a candidate for deletion. If you are unsure, bring up the issue on the talk page. # For the article or image being proposed for deletion, add a <nowiki>{{vfd}}</nowiki> tag so that people viewing the article will know that it is proposed for deletion. The <nowiki>{{vfd}}</nowiki> tag must be the very first thing in the article, '''right at the very top''', before everything else. # Add a link to the article or image at the end of the VFD list, along with the reason why it is being listed for deletion. Sign your vote using four tildes ("<nowiki>~~~~</nowiki>"). ''List one article or image per entry''. # If you're nominating an image for deletion, make sure it's actually located on the English Wikitravel... many images are located on Wikitravel Shared, in which case they should be nominated for deletion over there instead.
Other contributors can discuss whether the article or image should be deleted. '''Articles and images are presumed guilty until proven innocent.''' After '''fourteen (14) days''' of discussion, if a consensus is reached to retain an article, it won't be deleted. Otherwise it will be deleted by an administrator.
Administrators may also, at their discretion, delete obviously inappropriate articles and images:
If there is ''any doubt'' whether the criteria above apply, or any chance that an article or image ''could be considered useful'', they should go through the deletion voting procedure. If the content has potential but the name is hopeless, the content should be moved to the proper place before deletion. If the name is OK but the article content is a copyright violation, it should be blanked and replaced with a template, not deleted.
To contest a speedy deletion, raise the issue on Wikitravel:Votes for undeletion.
In some cases an article or image may be nominated for deletion, and a consensus to keep the content is then reached before fourteen days have passed. In this case leaving the article or image as a candidate for deletion is no longer necessary and the VFD may be ended early. When ending a VFD early:
'''Do not end a VFD early unless a clear consensus is reached'''. A consensus is not the same as a majority, nor do a small handful of comments in favor of keeping an article constitute a consensus. If you are unsure about whether a consensus has been reached, allow the VFD to continue.
Admins can delete their own pages as they wish.
A notable exception is talk pages. We don't usually delete discussions, even on user talk pages, so these will generally be left intact if anyone other than the user has commented.
It may occur from time to time that we delete an article by mistake -- that is, that the article doesn't actually meet the standards for deleting articles listed above. In this case, a Wikitraveller should link to the page on Wikitravel:votes for undeletion, with an explanation of why the deletion wasn't in accordance with the deletion policy. Articles and images are still considered guilty until proven innocent. After fourteen (14) days of discussion, if a consensus arises that the page was deleted unnecessarily, then an administrator should reinstate the page. Otherwise, the page will stay deleted.