If I understand correctly, you suggest that tourist guides can inspire travel, but that this inspiration is often secondary to that from fiction.
I must clarify that the inspiration from tourist guides can be the starting point, and not just a validation.
I've seen people, myself included, browse a travel guide in a bookstore, come across a photo or description of a place they didn't know existed, and decide on the spot that it would be their next destination.
Isn't that proof that the guide can ignite the spark of travel, long before any other influence, without a film or a book being necessary?
In my experience, the practical and visual aspect of a guide can be a powerful budget trigger and an exploration catalyst.