60% of travelers still prefer human trip planning over AI, according to new research from Civitatis | News
Despite the rapid rise of generative AI tools in travel planning, 60% of travelers still prefer human-curated recommendations and verified information, according to a survey of more than 7,000 users conducted by Civitatis, a leading global marketplace for tours and excursions in Spanish and Portuguese.
The research also highlights growing concerns about the reliability of AI-generated travel advice. Nearly half of respondents who have used AI to plan a trip say they have encountered incorrect or outdated information, especially when it comes to dynamic details such as opening hours, prices or real-time availability.
These findings suggest that while artificial intelligence is increasingly used as a starting point for travel inspiration or logistics questions, travelers still rely heavily on trusted platforms and human verification before making final decisions.
AI as inspiration, human verification for decisions
According to the research, AI is most commonly used by travelers as an initial research tool, for example to generate ideas, itineraries or general destination information. However, once recommendations are received, users tend to immediately verify them via search engines or specialized travel platforms to confirm their accuracy.
Respondents who reported encountering errors in AI-generated information cited outdated schedules, broken links, incorrect prices, or attractions that appeared open when they were actually closed as some of the most common issues.
“While AI is a powerful ally for inspiration, true travel planning requires assurances that only the expert judgment of our teams and the real experiences of our customers can provide,” said Andrés Spitzer, CEO of Civitatis. “In a digital environment saturated with content, our value lies in the credibility and expert opinion of our community. Technology can suggest options, but trust and accuracy can only be guaranteed by the human factor.”
Travelers still value personal planning
The research also shows that a majority of travelers are not yet actively using AI to organize their trips. More than 60% of respondents say they still don’t rely on AI tools for travel planning.
Reasons cited include a preference for independently designing travel routes and a lack of familiarity with how AI tools can be applied to travel planning.
The results come from a particularly experienced traveler profile: more than 65% of respondents are over 46 years old and typically make between two and five trips per year, indicating that even frequent travelers continue to value instant planning and verified sources of information.
Highlighting the role of human curation in travel
In response to these insights, Civitatis has launched a new campaign titled ‘Travel is Human’, aimed at highlighting the importance of human curation and authenticated travel experiences in an increasingly automated digital landscape.
As part of the initiative, the company created a fictional destination – San Elías Island – to illustrate how easily unverified or AI-generated information can lead travelers to places or experiences that don’t exist in reality.
The campaign also coincides with the launch of the company’s redesigned mobile app, designed to provide real-time travel information and access to millions of verified traveler reviews, two features considered essential by users to ensure the quality and reliability of their travel experience.
