Bitter Consequences for Tourists Who Trust ChatGPT Too Much

 Many travelers have turned to ChatGPT for travel advice — only to receive misleading suggestions that cost them both time and money.

Orit Ofri, a marketing consultant from Oregon, USA, used ChatGPT to plan her trip to Paris last month. The chatbot confidently recommended she visit the Musée d'Orsay — on a Monday, the museum’s weekly closing day. When she arrived, she had no choice but to turn back in disappointment.

“I also asked for restaurants within a 10-minute walk of the Eiffel Tower, but ChatGPT suggested places more than 20 minutes away,” she added.

This comes as more travelers are relying on artificial intelligence (AI) for vacation planning — a trend that has doubled in the UK over the past year.

According to a survey by the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA), the number of people using AI to generate travel ideas increased by 4% compared to last year, meaning one in every 12 people now uses AI for planning trips. ABTA said the findings show AI is starting to significantly influence travel decisions.

AI expert Jonas Muthoni, who has analyzed thousands of AI-generated pieces of content, also tested ChatGPT to plan a trip to Kenya this summer. The chatbot confidently recommended visiting Maasai Mara National Reserve during peak migration season, but failed to mention that poor road conditions at that time often cut off access to many lodges.

Another user, Milton Brown, a digital marketing budget manager, turned to ChatGPT for hotel suggestions. The AI tool recommended hotels up to 40% more expensive than similar options just a few blocks away.
“Those hotels are running heavy advertising campaigns targeting the same keywords AI was trained on,” he explained.

Despite the rising popularity of AI, the ABTA survey found traditional planning methods still dominate. Most travelers still rely on online searches or recommendations from friends and family, while 25% still use guidebooks and print travel resources.

ABTA CEO Mark Tanzer said the growing use of AI reflects a broader change in consumer behavior across many industries — not just tourism. However, he emphasized the importance of maintaining the human element: personal advice and real travel experience from travel agents and tour operators.

The rise of AI also coincides with another travel trend highlighted by ABTA — solo travel is at its highest level since 2014. Nearly 20% of respondents said they traveled alone in the past year, up from 13% in 2014 and surpassing last year’s record of 17%.


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