Travel Mindset

A wise person once told me that you can tell the difference between people who have traveled and those who have not.  The ones who have traveled extensively tend to have experienced more and have a more open mind.  While this seems to make sense, I wonder, do you have to travel to have a travel mindset?  For example, what happens if someone can't afford to travel internationally, or has family obligations or is physically unable to?  However, that same person might have an open mind, be open to new experiences and goes out of his/her way to try and duplicate these experiences.  True, reading about Paris is not the same as going to Paris, but what does physically stepping foot in Paris equate to anyway?  For example, if someone takes a very structured tour, is only exposed to tourist sights and never meets any locals, what has this person experienced?  If a traveler only views the world from his vantage point, never seeks to adapt to the local culture nor even try to understand it, what does that indicate?

For example, Sarah Palin was criticized for not travelling abroad for which she offered some of the above explanations (financial, work, etc.).  If that's the case that's understandable.  However, the real criticism might be that she didn't have the travel mindset, even though she was unable to physically travel.

So, the real question might be, what is the travel mindset, and how can people apply it to their everyday lives.  A few thoughts pop into my head.
Interest - You travel somewhere, you read about, study a subject or make an effort to do something because you have an interest in people, culture, history, etc.
Open Mind - You keep an open mind, you are not so quick to judge or try and force your values on a situation.
Flexible - Sometimes things don't always go so well when travelling, whether it's language or cultural mistakes or just getting lost.  The same could be said of everyday life.
Try Something New - Even with an interest and an open mind that doesn't guarantee you'll experience something.  Maybe you'll spend more time dreaming than doing.

Most of these points seem possible to have and/or enact in everyday life.  So, does the experience of travelling shape the person - or does the person's mindset shape their experiences.  Probably a bit of both.