Are global tourism and travel still necessary when everything can be experienced or achieved online?

In spite of the deluge of travel information online, many travel enthusiasts may still prefer to visit foreign countries physically as a means to strengthen their ties with family and friends living abroad. The growing interconnectedness of nations has led to an increase in intercultural marriages. As such, many people eagerly take the initiative to reunite with their loved ones overseas and soak in new places of interest. Indeed, the novelty of experiencing something new is enhanced when they have someone familiar to share them with, thus boosting the endorphins derived from sightseeing. For instance, when my wife’s family came over from Japan, we took them to view the Merlion, an iconic landmark of Singapore. Even though it was congested there, we had a whale of a time taking funny photos with this signature landmark. It was an afternoon to remember, one that we would retrieve from our collective memories in time to come. The sensation of spending quality time in one another’s presence cannot be replicated via Zoom meetings or Line video calls and thus, attests to the importance of global tourism and travel.