In early July, Singapore’s daily newspaper, Strait Times, ran an article about a beautifully scenic cable car ride. The report says an elderly Malaysian couple travelled more than 300 km, from Kuala Lumpur to Perak in search of the ride.
Turns out it doesn't exist.
The video reporting on the cable car was entirely created by AI, from a fictional broadcaster called 'TV Rakyat', down to the journalist reporting on it. Although the video appeared to be a professionally produced news segment, the cable car, tram ride, and the tourist-friendly infrastructure were all fake.
The Malaysia incident is a growing trend of AI-driven misinformation leaking into real-world travel. A Dutch travel company, ‘Bespoke Amsterdam Experiences’ blogged about an increase in traveller requests for locations that don’t actually exist.
“They aren’t hidden gems or lesser-known spots, they’re fantasy locations that are being shared widely across social media and travel platforms. These images often include a landmark or feature from a real location, such as a windmill or church, and place it in a computer generated landscape.”
Canada’s Claire Newell recently emphasized the evolving danger speaking to Global News, citing a Flight Centre survey that found that 32% of Canadians have fallen victim to travel scams. The survey also highlights that it is the Gen-Z travellers who are particularly affected, representing nearly half of all reported scam victims.
As AI becomes more sophisticated it increasingly blurs the line between fiction and reality. Both travellers and advisors are being cautioned to do their homework. One more thing to worry about…
