ChatGPT sent tourists to a festival that does not exist in 2026 / More than 10 coaches arrived in Jurilovca

More than 10 coaches and numerous tourists who arrived in their personal cars came to Jurilovca, Tulcea County, this weekend, convinced that they would attend the Lipovan Borscht Festival. The event was not organized in 2026, having been suspended amid austerity measures and pressure on the local budget. The commune’s mayor, Eugen Ion, announced that the local administration had not promoted the festival and that the tourists had allegedly been misled by travel agencies and unverified information on the internet. According to the mayor, some agencies promoted trips for different dates without initially contacting Jurilovca City Hall to check whether the event was taking place.

The mayor claimed that the administration subsequently contacted the operators, and some withdrew their offers or apologized. In contrast, a representative of an agency stated that they had repeatedly tried to obtain information from the town hall and that the lack of clear communications had contributed to the confusion. He noted that his agency’s tourists were informed and offered a trip to Gura Portiței as an alternative. Eugen Ion also said that some tourists asked ChatGPT whether the festival was being held, and that the artificial intelligence allegedly provided an incorrect answer, even indicating the dates of September 4 and 5. The mayor recommends that tourists check information in official sources. He emphasizes that visitors are welcome in Jurilovca, but not for an event that is not taking place.