Mumbai: Actor Sshrey Pareek, known for his work in shows like Jhanak and Qurbaan Hua, and currently gearing up for his upcoming film Oye Chill Maar, is someone who believes that travelling is as much about experiencing a place as it is about visiting it. On the occasion of World Tourism Day on September 27, Sshrey opens up about responsible tourism, exploring local culture and why travellers must make conscious efforts to protect the places they visit.
Talking about what makes a destination worth visiting, Sshrey says, “It’s a combination of everything. I personally prefer culture, food and landmarks. Every destination has its own authenticity, and I genuinely believe in exploring every aspect of the place.”
The actor also believes tourism can benefit local communities when travellers make a conscious effort to respect their way of life and surroundings. He says, “I believe tourism can benefit local communities without harming their culture and environment. On a personal level, I always try to nurture and live their culture when I travel to a place, and I always try to protect their environment at any cost. I genuinely respect and admire it when other tourists do the same.”
Sshrey feels preserving the identity of a destination is particularly important at a time when several cities are gradually losing their cultural authenticity. He adds, “In metro cities, we are losing the culture and authenticity, though I wish it shouldn’t happen. We need to protect it. When cities give us such a warm welcome, it is our responsibility to be responsible in every way.”
For Sshrey, respecting the environment is one of the most basic responsibilities of a traveller. He says, “What I have seen is that the majority of tourists don’t respect the environment. They throw garbage all over and don’t treat the places well. Many tourists travel to chill or party, but we shouldn’t forget to behave responsibly and keep the environment at its best.”
Social media, according to the actor, has brought both advantages and challenges to the way people travel. “I think it has made things better and worse, both. Social media has surely shown us the beauty of cities and introduced us to cultures and places we may never have known about. It has definitely given us amazing itineraries. But it has also made some places overcrowded and messy, which I feel is definitely harming the environment of these cities,” he shares.
When given a choice between an iconic destination and an unexplored local gem, Sshrey would pick the latter. “An unexplored local gem for sure. I think it is a visionary aspect. Being at an unexplored place takes us closer to nature and culture. We are in the moment experiencing something we haven’t seen anywhere, which definitely keeps us excited and curious about the place,” he says.
For Sshrey, sustainable tourism ultimately begins with simple habits. “Cleanliness and behaviour are really, really important for us to maintain sustainability. We just can’t go to a place, make it a mess, come back and say, ‘You know, you should go to that place,’ which we have already spoiled,” he concludes.
