I think you are right. Depth of experience has always seemed more rewarding than breadth of experience.
I think there is value to vacation and travel for relaxation purposes. But you are definitely right that "world-view enhancing" is travel industry propaganda.
Maybe if you live somewhere for a year and integrate with the culture there is something to be gained. But a week in Italy is just for fun, I think it's silly when people claim otherwise.
Building a community and established roots seems much more meaningful than travelling to many different places, at least to me.
As someone on the border of being Gen Z, I think there is some truth to what you are saying. Especially on the not paying part. Lots of dream jobs are hiring.
If I think of what jobs would be most meaningful to me, it is things that are not paying. I could be a computer science teacher and after a long career still make less than I did in my first software job out of college.
If I want to afford to own a house or have a family, it's clear which career choice I have to make.
I recently finished Chelsea Manning's Readme.txt and I thought it was great. The themes are about two different types of "trans." Transparency in government and trans rights. I think both topics typically attract different audiences but the book was a fascinating look at both. And if you have interest in both definitely worth checking out.
While it wasn't the primary purpose, I also really enjoyed it from a personal perspective to Manning's upbringing. I have not seen the unique dynamic of growing up in a digitally connected America captured as well as it was in this book. The feeling of immense loneliness in real life but a deep connectedness online resonated very strongly with me.
I think there is value to vacation and travel for relaxation purposes. But you are definitely right that "world-view enhancing" is travel industry propaganda.
Maybe if you live somewhere for a year and integrate with the culture there is something to be gained. But a week in Italy is just for fun, I think it's silly when people claim otherwise.
Building a community and established roots seems much more meaningful than travelling to many different places, at least to me.