A Tasmania Tours website has listed non-existent hot springs, leading travelers to a local pub in Weldborough, north-east Tasmania, to inquire about their location. The website, operated by Australian Tours and Cruises, contained imagery and descriptions of "Weldborough Hot Springs" that do not exist.
Kristy Probert, publican of the Weldborough Hotel, reported daily inquiries from confused tourists and groups, some even diverting their travel plans based on the false information. She clarified that the local Weld River is cold and does not feature hot springs.
Scott Hennessy, owner of Australian Tours and Cruises, stated that "Our AI has messed up completely." He explained that the company outsourced marketing content to a third party that utilized AI. Although posts are typically reviewed, some were published in error while he was abroad. The article about the hot springs was posted in July 2025.
Hennessy indicated that AI content generation is used to compete with larger companies and maintain refreshed content. He acknowledged that while AI can be effective, it sometimes produces inaccurate information, including fabricated animals in images. All AI-generated blog posts have since been removed for review.
Anne Hardy of Destination Southern Tasmania highlighted the increasing issue of "AI hallucinations," noting that approximately 90% of AI-generated travel itineraries contain at least one error. She emphasized the importance of quality control for online businesses, particularly as 37% of people rely on AI for itinerary planning.