Latest News

Back to Latest News back

 

Rise in visitors to Uluru in advance of climbing ban

Rise in visitors to Uluru in advance of climbing ban
June 27, 2019

Uluru is seeing a surge in visitor numbers is advance of the climbing ban which comes into effect on 26th October.

With tourism operators flat out meeting growing demand, concerns are being expressed about what will be done to keep visitor numbers up once the option to climb the ancient monolith is axed.

Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park management said a focus on culture and country could keep people coming in, and has put forward some of its plans to re-define the iconic Australian destination.

Accommodation in the tourist hub of Yulara, just over 440 kilometres south-west of Alice Springs, has been tight since the ban was announced.

Park Manager Mike Misso said they were aware some people were rushing to climb Uluru and visitor numbers may decline after the ban was enforced, telling the ABC “what we expect is a bit of a blip because this is people coming for their bucket list.

"That might be people who were going to come in the next three to five years who are coming now. But we still expect numbers to remain high after the climb closure.”

Traditional owner Sammy Wilson, who chairs the Park's board, agreed, adding “generation after generation will want to visit Uluru.”

Wilson - who previously famously declared Uluru was not a theme park "like Disneyland" - said he did not mind that people were rushing to climb before the ban.

"We're not moving the rock away from visitors to come visit us. It's just this one thing," he said.

However, he said, that after that, he hoped people would respect the wishes of the local Anangu people.

The decision to ban people climbing Uluru comes after a long history of behaviour that has offended the traditional owners of the sacred site.

Andrew Peters, a senior lecturer in Indigenous tourism at Swinburne University, said the new plans had potential.

Peters explained “the focus should be less on what I call the selfish experiences of the tourist - walk on this rock, get some photos, take home a souvenir, and what they will get out of it - and more about what the benefit should be to the people who are hosting.

"For me, this is about having visitors behave in a way that fits in with the expectations of traditional owners, not the expectations of mainstream tourism, which is about serving the needs of the visitor, not the needs of the host.

"As tourists, we need to be more aware of our impact and footprint on the places we visit - not just physical but social and cultural.”

Images show Paul Brown's recent ascent of Uluru. Courtesy of Paul Brown Mr Retention.

Related Articles

21st June 2019 - Parks Australia’s management of Federal protected areas slammed in National Audit Office report

5th June 2019 - Byron Bay named among world’s worst locations for overtourism

29th May 2019 - Climber suffers cardiac arrest on Uluru

1st November 2017 - Climbing Uluru to be banned from October 2019

16th October 2015 - Ayers Rock Resort adds to events program

10th August 2014 - Paul Brown and family to take on global sports challenge

21st January 2014 - Balloon flights proposed as safe alternative to climbing Uluru

29th October 2012 - Uluru climb numbers decline

27th April 2010 - Uluru Death Sparks Calls to end Rock climb

16th October 2009 - Uluru’s new viewing platform applauded by Minister


Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.

 

supplier directory

The Complete Guide to Leisure Industry Products & Services.

See the directory see all

ICP

ICP is an Australian-based company focused on indoor climbing. ICP will manage your project from initial design to completion and beyond, whether you're building an international-level climbing…

read more

Attractions / Fitness / Recreation

 
 

PaySmart

Headquartered in Brisbane with an Australia-wide network of satellite offices, PaySmart is one of Australia’s largest and longest-standing direct debit billing companies. In 1996 we began…

read more

Access / Billing / Fitness / Technology

 
 

AUSTRALIAN WATERSLIDES AND LEISURE

A leading designer and manufacturer of innovative waterslides and attractions, Australian Waterslides and Leisure (AWL) is also able to advise clients in the areas of concept and design, feasibility…

read more

Aquatics / Attractions / Play / Waterparks

 
 

SeatGeek Asia Pacific

SeatGeek is a search engine and mobile-focused ticket marketplace that allows fans to buy and sell tickets for live events. As of August 2018, SeatGeek has exited the Australian, New…

read more

Entertainment / Sport / Technology / Ticketing / Venues

 
 

AAC

Welcome to AAC – makers of the world’s best wristbands, lanyards, tickets, tokens and full-service print solutions. We are Australia’s premier global manufacturer and supplier of…

read more

Access / Marketing / Safety / Ticketing

 
 

Quayclean

Quayclean are a national cleaning and waste services partner with proven results in the understanding and delivery of cleaning needs and challenges faced by facilities including; major venues and…

read more

Aquatics / Hospitality / Surfaces / Venues

 
 

Momentus Technologies

About: Momentus Technologies is a global provider of industry-leading venue and event management solutions that empower organizations to create extraordinary moments. With over 50,000 users in more…

read more

Entertainment / Events / Hospitality / Technology / Venues

 
 

CENTAMAN

Centaman has been a market leader in Enterprise Software Solutions for the leisure and recreation industry and both profit and not-for-profit attractions since 1991. It offers a wide range of software…

read more

Access / Billing / Fitness / Technology / Ticketing

 
 
 
 

get listed with our suppliers directory

Get your business noticed in our targeted directory. Viewed by 10,000 industry professionals per week!

list your business