Imagine this: you’re excitedly planning your next big trip. Sitting in front of your laptop, you type into ChatGPT: “I want a scenic tour in South America, preferably some hidden, spiritual spot.” Seconds later, you get a recommendation: the “Sacred Canyon of Humantay” – a mystical canyon with stunning waterfalls and breathtaking mountains. But there’s a catch.
Fictional Places and Very Real Dangers
Recently, the BBC highlighted several shocking cases where AI got lost in itinerary planning, causing major troubles for tourists.
In the Peruvian mountains, Miguel Angel Gongora Meza, a tour guide with Evolution Treks Peru, spoke to two foreign tourists preparing to visit the “Sacred Canyon of Humantay” alone, without a guide. They even showed him their phone displaying an AI-generated text in a confident, enthusiastic style with detailed descriptions.
“They showed me a screenshot full of vivid adjectives – but it wasn’t true. The Sacred Canyon of Humantay doesn’t exist!” Gongora Meza told the BBC.
“The name is a mix of two real places, but their descriptions have nothing to do with each other. The tourists paid nearly $160 to reach a remote dirt road near Mollepata – with no real destination.”
The guide warns this isn’t just an annoying mix-up – it can be life-threatening. “This kind of misinformation is dangerous in Peru,” he cautions. “Altitude, weather, rough trails – all require careful planning. If an AI program just mixes images and names, it can create a completely fake route, leaving you stranded at 4,000 meters (13,000 feet) with no oxygen or signal.”
Sunset on a Closed Mountain Peak – Japan’s Not Much Better
It’s not just South America where AI’s over-creativity causes problems. A Japanese couple, Dana Yao and her husband, planned a romantic sunset at the picturesque Mount Misen summit with AI’s help.
ChatGPT even wrote them an itinerary: stroll through Miyajima town, then head up the mountain at 3 PM to catch the sunset at the peak, and take the last cable car down comfortably. “That’s when the problem started,” Yao said. “ChatGPT said the last cable car left at 5:30 PM, but it was actually already closed. We got stuck on the mountaintop.”
Eiffel Tower in Beijing? Why Does AI ‘Hallucinate’?
These kinds of mistakes are becoming more common. In another case, an AI tool named Layla suggested visiting an Eiffel Tower in Beijing (!), while a British traveler was given an impossible Italian marathon route that didn’t make sense time- or distance-wise. “The itinerary didn’t add up,” the traveler told the BBC. “We would have spent more time traveling than actually enjoying the trip.”
A 2024 study involving people who used AI for travel planning clearly suggests caution: 37% felt they didn’t get enough information, while 33% encountered false or inaccurate recommendations.
So, Why Does This Happen?
“AI can’t tell the difference between advice, an itinerary, or a recipe,” explains Rayid Ghani, professor at Carnegie Mellon University. “It just generates words. What it says sounds believable – but that doesn’t mean it’s true.”
AI like ChatGPT connects words and sentences based on statistics. Sometimes it works perfectly. Other times, as experts call it, it “hallucinates” and produces completely made-up content. The problem is users don’t always spot the difference from reality.
When AI Distorts Reality Too
The issue isn’t just with text. Some social media videos now show entirely AI-generated attractions – like a non-existent cable car in Malaysia that tourists tried to find, to no avail.
Meanwhile, YouTube and Netflix have used AI to “enhance” old content, sometimes altering clothes, hairstyles, and facial features of real people – without their consent. The line between reality and the “AI dream world” is blurring more and more.
The Cost of False Experiences and the Value of Real Travel
Psychotherapist Javier Labourt believes the soul of travel lies in authentic encounters – with people, places, and cultures. When AI distorts preliminary info, we form a false picture even before we leave.
“Travel offers a unique chance to explore other cultures – helping empathy and openness grow,” Labourt says. “But if AI misleads you at home, you imagine a place that doesn’t even exist.”
How to Use AI Well for Travel Planning
Experts say the key isn’t banning AI, but using it mindfully.
Here are some tips:
- Be specific with your questions and don’t settle for just one answer.
- Verify all info with other trusted sources – maps, official websites, and reviews.
- Use AI as inspiration, not the single source of truth.
The Secret to a Great Trip: Open Eyes, Flexible Attitude
Remember: no trip is ever perfect. Things will go differently than planned. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be full of great experiences. In fact, it might become truly memorable because not everything went your way.
“Don’t get stuck in disappointment,” Labourt advises. “Ask yourself: now that you’re there, how can you make the best of the situation? It’s still a special journey.”
