Their arguments are solid: of course, a work of fiction can ignite an initial spark and make us dream of distant destinations; it is undeniable that movies or books transport us.
However, limiting tourist guides to a simple logistical tool without internet ignores their power of creating desire upstream.
A guide can present a destination with such practical precision and activity suggestions that it sparks the desire to travel just as much as a story.
For example, a detailed guide on hiking trails in Patagonia, with its maps, difficulty levels, and realistic photos, made me want to go more than any series.
They turn a vague idea into a tangible and appealing project, which fiction alone does not always do.