If I were to defend the opposing idea, I would say that fiction offers a primary inspiration that travel guides then expand and make concrete for the traveler.
This is charitable, because this hierarchy is often reversed or not the only path to the decision to travel; guides can initiate inspiration.
A guide can present an unexpected destination with clear information on costs and activities, like a well-written CV reveals a candidate with no direct experience in a sector.
Pragmatic discovery can create the desire to visit, even without any prior fictional influence.
For example, a guide on Belgium can convince you to visit Bruges for its beer and architecture without you having read a book or seen a film set there.