There is a quote by Saint Augustine, which goes
“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page”
You could think of it this way: if you read what’s in the news or watch the news on TV and don’t question it, you’re missing on a ton of information. You might think it makes you smarter and more aware of the world, but it’s the exact opposite: it narrows your mind to a unique and biased perspective.
Dare traveling to regions you have skeptical opinion about. I bet that you will change your mind and realize that everything is not bad abroad.