The internet means people do not need to travel to foreign countries to understand how others live. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

The growth of information available on the internet in recent decades has prompted some to question the value of international travel. In my opinion, travelling to other

countries

is a rewarding

experience

, but I am largely in agreement with

this

position. Those who still advocate travelling abroad highlight how important the

experience

can be.

This

argument centres around both its value in itself

as well as

its utility. Most travellers can justify the time and money by the enjoyable

experience

and discovery of another country, including their people and traditions. These experiences are

also

formative.

For example

, someone who grows up in a wealthy European nation might not have seen how people live in developing or more ethnically diverse

countries

. They will

therefore

have a fuller understanding of the rest of the world if they travel a lot and

this

could impact both their political views and their actions later in life.

Nonetheless

, travel is no longer as important as it used to be because it is now possible to learn about

countries

online. The

experience

is still valuable but online information is actually likely to be more accurate and comprehensive. An individual who wants to research life in Vietnam,

for instance

, can scroll through lifestyle blogs, read the local online versions of magazines, watch videos of both foreigners and residents from all over the country, follow individuals from a wide segment of society on Instagram, and generally get a good sense for the country without ever setting foot there. In the past, limited access to technology in those developing

countries

might have made it impossible to understand how locals live, but

that is

no longer a problem. In conclusion, the information that can be found on the internet has greatly diminished the importance of the

experience

of travelling to other

countries

. Each individual must

nonetheless

decide for themselves whether it is still a worthwhile expense.