The Importance of an "Outlet to the Sea"

We were talking in class today about Bolivia and how its landlocked geography limits its capability. I am curious about the opinions of fellow classmates: how importance is it (in the year 2005 and onwards) for a nation-state to have prominent seaboard/port cities? So many great cities (from Osaka to New Orleans to Havana) owe credit to the fact that they were accessible by ship. And while ships have historically been the main vessel for trade of goods and ideas (and still continue to play an important role) today planes are what allow people to cross international borders and interact with cultures around the world on a mass level. (We also talked about Panama and how the importance of the Canal has diminished) Air travel has never been more available to people and it will only continue to do so. Everywhere from the UK to India to Southeast Asia, "Southwest Airlines" like businesses (complete with do-it-yourself online bookings!) are springing up and making travel affordable to the masses. Will these airlines be the catalyst of serious cultural/regional integration? Or will the "head start" that seaboard cities have had always give them an advantage over cities that lack access to the sea? (Brasilia...)