Steelmanning the idea that fictional narratives are the primary source of travel inspiration is a charitable position, because a story can indeed ignite a desire.
However, it is quite possible and even common for the hierarchy to be reversed, and for a guide to be the initial source of inspiration.
When looking for practical information, for example, about daily life in Belgium for a job opportunity, a guide can reveal the cultural richness of Ghent or the Christmas markets of Liège.
This concrete and rooted detail can be the trigger for a desire to travel or even move, long before any fiction.
The order of things is often more fluid than we imagine, and tools can become the spark.