ESL WORKSHEET - AI technology

LESSON PLAN FOR ENGLISH TEACHERS

AI INVENTS TOURIST DESTINATION

LinguaHouse

Mar. 2, 2026

Level: Intermediate (B1-B2)
Type of language: General English
Tags: AI Technology; Breaking News; Controversial Issues; Travel and Leisure; Challenges; Speaking; Vocabulary Lesson; Article Based; 16-18 Years Old; 18+ Years Old
Publication date: 03/02/2026

A breaking news lesson about an AI blog sending tourists to a fictional destination, with a report focusing on the story, and an article giving the opinions of four members of the public on the topic. Students will learn related vocabulary, practice reading and listening skills and reinforce their new vocabulary with conversation practice. (by David J. Marriott)

• CLICK HERE to download the student’s worksheet in American English.
• CLICK HERE to download the teacher’s lesson plan in American English.
• CLICK HERE to download/listen to the audio in American English.
• CLICK HERE to download the student’s worksheet in British English.
• CLICK HERE to download the teacher’s lesson plan in British English.
• CLICK HERE to download/listen to the audio in British English.

AUDIO TRANSCRIPT

Newsreader: A blog generated by AI on a travel company’s website has sent tourists to a destination that doesn’t exist.
Tourists visiting the website discovered recommendations for “Weldborough Hot Springs”, which, the article claimed, offered a “peaceful escape” in the forests of Tasmania. This “tranquil haven” was claimed to be a “favorite” among hikers.
While Weldborough – a small rural town in the Australian island – does actually exist, there are no hot springs in the area. Local hotel owners became aware of the glitch when visitors started asking questions about the fictional destination.
Tasmania Tours, the company behind the error, has since deleted the AI blog, stating that they had outsourced their marketing to a third party.
The company, which is owned by a married couple, has faced online backlash after the story went viral.
According to some estimates, around thirty-seven percent of tourists use AI for travel advice and itineraries. However, tourism research suggests that ninety percent of travel plans generated by AI feature mistakes.
The fictional hot springs are not the first instance of AI sending travelers on a journey to nowhere. Previous examples include an attempted hike to the “Sacred Canyon of Humantay”, which could supposedly be found in Peru, and recommendations to visit Beijing's very own Eiffel Tower.
Such errors – which experts call hallucinations – occur because generative AI is designed to give responses that sound like something a person would say, rather than offering accurate information.
Instead of understanding the user’s question, AI software draws upon a library of stolen material sourced from the Internet. The result may seem like useful information, but is likely to be full of mistakes.
Although the “Weldborough Hot Springs” incident appears harmless, some have pointed out that AI misinformation could lead to disaster for tourists, especially in areas of the world which require careful planning to visit.

Adapted from: https://www.linguahouse.com/esl-lesson-plans/general-english/ai-invents-tourist-destination. Accessed on March 5, 2026. LinguaHouse.com © 2008–2026. All rights reserved.