I wonder how much of tourism is social prestige signaling. As in: "I've been to place X, have you been to place x?". It's sort of like going to TED conferences,

I wonder how much of tourism is social prestige signaling. As in: "I've been to place X, have you been to place x?". It's sort of like going to TED conferences, it makes middle class people feel good about themselves and show prestige with their peers.