Nonexistent phantom destinations confuse travelers

In our modern world, a viral video can capture the world’s attention, and artificial intelligence is literally changing the way we travel. What happens, though, when these compelling scenes are more than just advanced—when they’re fully formed?

A story from Malaysia highlights the potential dangers of digital illusions and phantom destinations. An elderly couple’s holiday dreams are shattered after a futile drive. With growing AI content, the boundary between real adventure and AI-generated fantasy is blurring, presenting tough challenges for both tourists and travel professionals.

A Cable Car to Nowhere: The Malaysian Mistake

Imagine this: lush forests below, majestic peaks above, and you’re riding through paradise in a cable car. It was this curiosity that led a retired couple from Kuala Lumpur on the three-hour drive to Perak last month. A cute tic-tac-toe video featuring a cable car ride in Kuala Lumpur promises a peaceful escape.

The video was a masterclass in motivation. One established reporter described the ride enthusiastically, praising the “amazing views” and “exciting experience.” It showed among the tourists who shared positive comments about the engineering marvel cutting through the trees. It looks real: high-definition shots, natural light, and even cable vocals for authenticity.

The couple went to a local hotel, eager to take a ride, but were met with confusion when they asked about Skyride. They showed the video to the staff, who then chimed in: “It was created by AI.” The footage was a complete fake—no gondolas, no forests, nothing. Kuala Lumpur was quiet, lacking the charm that had fueled their trip.

Disbelief turned to disappointment. According to reports, the woman became upset and threatened to sue the on-screen journalist for misleading advertising. Only after patient staff explained the technology behind the clip — synthetic voices, deeply fake faces, and computer-generated scenery — did the truth sink in. “The Reporter” Was Fake: The Creation of AI.

The rise of the deepfake illusion

This is not an isolated incident; This is indicative of a wider problem. Deepfakes—real videos or photos manipulated by AI—are everywhere, including travel. A February 2025 Signicat report noted a significant increase in deep-pocketed fraud attempts, falling from 0.1 percent in 2022 to 6.5 percent in late 2024. This significant increase means that deep fakes account for about one in every 15 cases of fraud.

These devices are used to represent fictional destinations, fake tours, hotels, or landmarks, exploiting our desire to escape. In tourism, this can be a waste of time, money, and frustration. As AI models get better at mimicking accents, creating crowds, and synchronizing lip movements, it becomes increasingly difficult to detect fakes.

From Selfies to Artificial Stars: The Toxic Allure of Social Media

This issue has its roots in social media, where SEO and viral popularity often influence travel decisions more than traditional guides. “Selfie tourism” has changed the world, turning quiet places into Instagram hotspots. Travelers pursue full shots instead of cultural immersion, ecosystem stress and local communities.

Consider Hallstatt, the undoubtedly charming Austrian village, the inspiration for Disney’s *Frozen*. Once a quiet place by the lake, it now receives more than a million visitors each year, each looking for similar, often viral, snapshots. The move has sparked protests from locals, who call it “over-tourism” as tour buses clog minor roads and selfie sticks appear to desecrate the historic sites.

Portofino in Italy offers a sharp contrast. This charming Riviera town, a haven for yachtsmen, is now pushing back with a $300 fine for tourists to stay at the popular photo spots. Officials note the “anarchic confusion” that creates crowd-sourced online imaginations, a problem compounded by edited photos that remove real people and promote attraction.

But influencers are probably just the beginning. Enter AI-generated travel figures: fully formed figures offer seamless video logs from “hidden gems” that may not actually exist. These digital personalities—complete with fairy tales, wardrobes, and terrifying desires—earn sponsorships while guiding followers to sponsored or potential Phenomenal destinations. Even established organizations are testing these waters. In 2024, the German National Tourist Board launched a campaign using AI-generated influencers to highlight lesser-known travel destinations like the Black Forest and the Bavarian Alps. The innovation received praise for its innovation but also raised some debates: if improvements are mixed with fakes, how can we as consumers trust anything?

Constructed realities and the way forward

The Malaysian couple’s ordeal is not just a cautionary tale; This is, in many cases, a sign of a fully developed future for travel. We’ve moved beyond edited snapshots to algorithmically planned journeys, where our journey begins with a sweep and leaves us with existential questions at the end. As Deepfix makes the illusion simple—tools like Midgerni and Sora enable practically anyone to become a one-person production team—it’s up to us to carefully navigate our way.

However, we can hope through awareness and education. Platforms such as TikTok and Instagram are promoting AI detection measures, while tourism agencies around the world are launching creator content certification programs. Even more seriously, extensive awareness campaigns can empower travelers: teach them to double-check claims with reliable sources, look for strange details (such as mismatched shadows or strangely quoted people), and instill the habit of suspicion as their closest travel companion.

Ultimately, the real wonder of exploration isn’t found in flashy videos or contrived tours—it’s in the unplanned events that happen in the real world. As AI tempts us with a perfect world, let’s not forget: the paths worth taking are the ones we approve of ourselves, a little.