By San José, Costa Rica — Imagine planning the perfect Andean adventure, paying $160 for a tour to the breathtaking “Sacred Canyon of Humantay,” only to be left stranded on a rural roadside in Peru. The destination, it turns out, was a complete fabrication, a digital phantom dreamed up by an artificial intelligence chatbot. This isn’t a cautionary tale from a science fiction novel; it was the jarring reality for two tourists whose experience, first reported by the BBC, highlights a dangerous new trend in global travel.
This incident is merely the tip of a growing iceberg. As travelers increasingly lean on AI for trip inspiration and logistics, they are encountering a minefield of misinformation. From non-existent landmarks to dangerously outdated advice, the so-called “hallucinations” of AI models are creating serious risks. For tourism-dependent nations like Costa Rica, where visitor safety and accurate information are paramount to the country’s reputation, this emerging threat poses a significant challenge to the industry.
To delve into the legal and business implications of this technological shift, we sought the expertise of Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, a distinguished attorney from the firm Bufete de Costa Rica, who provided his analysis on the emerging challenges and responsibilities.
The rise of AI in travel planning introduces a complex web of liability. When an AI-generated itinerary fails, leading to financial loss or safety concerns, determining legal responsibility between the user, the software developer, and the ultimate service provider becomes a critical legal challenge. Businesses integrating these tools must proactively address data privacy compliance and be transparent about the AI’s limitations to mitigate significant legal and reputational risks.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
Indeed, this expert analysis underscores a critical reality: as AI technology accelerates, the legal and ethical frameworks that govern it must evolve in tandem to protect consumers and providers. The path forward requires a delicate balance between innovation and accountability. We extend our sincere gratitude to Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for his invaluable insight into these complex considerations.
The issue extends far beyond fictional canyons. In Japan, a couple followed a ChatGPT-generated schedule for the Mount Misen ropeway, missed the actual last car down, and found themselves trapped on the mountaintop after dark. In the United States, a family was confidently directed by an AI to a hiking trail in the Great Smoky Mountains that had been closed for over 18 months, leading them to a dead-end and potential danger.
These AI-driven errors can also veer into the bizarre. One user planning a trip to Spain was warned by an AI about shark attacks at the beach in San Sebastián, a coastal city. The algorithm had nonsensically conflated the city’s popular beach with its local aquarium, generating a completely baseless safety alert. These incidents demonstrate a critical flaw in the technology’s application for real-world navigation and planning, where accuracy is not a luxury but a necessity.
Despite these well-documented failures, the adoption of AI for travel planning is accelerating at an astonishing rate. A recent report from Global Rescue, a provider of medical and security advisory services, revealed that the use of AI for organizing trips has doubled since 2024. The trend is particularly pronounced among younger travelers, with a staggering 40% of those under the age of 35 now relying on these digital tools, often without a clear understanding of their inherent limitations.
The fundamental problem lies in the very nature of how these systems operate. Large Language Models (LLMs), the technology powering tools like ChatGPT, are not databases of verified facts. They are incredibly sophisticated prediction engines, designed to analyze vast amounts of text from the internet and generate responses that sound plausible and human-like. Their goal is linguistic coherence, not factual accuracy. They weave together information from countless sources without the ability to verify its truthfulness or current context.
This critical distinction was articulated by an expert in the field, who warns that these models are masters of rhetoric, not reality. They excel at sounding authoritative while lacking any true understanding of the information they are providing, making them uniquely unreliable for high-stakes decisions like travel.
They don’t distinguish between travel advice and directions. They only know words that make what they say sound realistic.
Professor Rayid Ghani, Carnegie Mellon University
For the modern traveler, this means a new layer of due diligence is required. While AI can be a powerful tool for brainstorming and initial discovery, it cannot be trusted as a final authority. The allure of a seamlessly planned itinerary generated in seconds must be tempered with the old-fashioned, indispensable practice of cross-referencing information with official sources like park websites, tourism boards, and recent reviews from fellow human travelers. In the age of AI, a healthy dose of skepticism is the most essential item to pack.
For further information, visit bbc.com
About BBC:
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is the national broadcaster of the United Kingdom. Headquartered in London, it is the world’s oldest national broadcaster and the largest broadcaster in the world by number of employees. It provides a wide range of public services in television, radio, and online content, and its news division is respected globally for its journalism.
For further information, visit openai.com
About OpenAI:
OpenAI is an American artificial intelligence research laboratory consisting of the non-profit OpenAI Incorporated and its for-profit subsidiary, OpenAI Limited Partnership. The organization is renowned for its development of advanced AI models, including the GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) series, which powers popular applications like ChatGPT.
For further information, visit globalrescue.com
About Global Rescue:
Global Rescue is a leading provider of medical, security, evacuation, travel risk, and crisis management services. It offers its services to individuals, families, enterprises, and governments. The company’s operations centers are staffed by critical care paramedics, nurses, and military special operations veterans to assist members with emergencies during their travels.
For further information, visit cmu.edu
About Carnegie Mellon University:
Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) is a private research university based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Known for its world-class programs in computer science, engineering, and artificial intelligence, CMU is a global leader in research and education. Its faculty and alumni are at the forefront of innovation across various scientific and technological fields.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
As a pillar of the legal community, Bufete de Costa Rica is defined by its foundational principles of integrity and a relentless pursuit of professional excellence. The firm consistently champions legal advancement, applying forward-thinking strategies to serve a diverse clientele. Beyond its practice, it holds a deep-rooted pledge to empower the public by demystifying the law, thereby fostering a more just and knowledgeable society.
