Their arguments are strong: the idea that travel guides are only a secondary component of romantic travel inspiration is appealing because fiction can plant seeds of dreams.
However, this charitable view does not fully grasp the autonomous and often predominant role that guides play.
Guides are often the primary source of decision-making for specific destinations, offering practical details and cultural insights far beyond what fiction can provide.
Considering the guide as a simple sub-part underestimates its ability to create the desire to travel on its own merits.
A guide on Christmas markets in Alsace, for example, can alone trigger an irresistible desire to visit, without any prior literary or cinematic influence.