People today often use the internet to learn about the culture of other countries. This means that it is not that important to travel to other countries. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

The fact that many people today use the

internet

to

experience

other countries means that it is no longer as important to actually

travel

to those nations. In my opinion, though

travel

has its benefits,

this

is largely true.

Firstly

, proponents of sightseeing often claim that real-life

experience

trumps virtual

experience

. Compare,

for instance

, the recent Google Museum project which catalogues collections from famous museums in high-resolution photos available to anyone with

internet

access.

This

is no doubt a positive development but it pales in comparison to the

experience

of walking through the Louvre and seeing the brushstrokes up close, going on a guided tour, and talking with other museum-goers.

This

holds true for a variety of experiences that are enhanced by being physically present in the moment.

Although

there are good reasons to continue to

travel

on occasion, the

internet

allows people to access the majority of the

experience

remotely. The most salient example of

this

is the ubiquity of YouTube for

internet

users around the world. A child from an impoverished background, who still has

internet

access, probably cannot

travel

to other countries but they can watch

travel

documentaries, vlogs, and archived television shows that show cultures around the world. The makers of these videos not only bring their

experience

but

also

aggregate the most noteworthy events and individuals that even the most adventurous traveller would have difficulty finding the time to locate. To conclude, travelling still plays a role in life but the

internet

has largely replaced its primary importance in life. There will come a time when the virtual world too fully overcomes the physical but for the moment it is still beneficial.