Tourists can still climb up Uluru
Source: Agencies |
January 9, 2010, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
TOURISTS can carry on climbing Uluru, the massive rock in the heart of the Australia's central red desert, after the Australian government yesterday ruled out banning it, for now.
Every year about 350,000 people visit Uluru -- previously known as Ayers Rock -- with 100,000 choosing to climb the 348-meter-high rock which is sacred to the local Aboriginal people.
But last year the board of the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park called for a ban on climbing the rock, a top tourism drawcard, out of respect for the indigenous owners.
They also voiced safety fears and concerns about visitors littering going to the toilet on the monolith, which is 9.4 kilometers in circumference.
But the proposed ban caused uproar in Australia's tourism sector, coming at a time when the industry was under threat from the global financial crisis.
A new management plan prepared by the board and approved by Environment Minister Peter Garrett yesterday ruled out banning the climb for now but left it open to be closed at a later date.
They set three conditions, saying the climb could be closed when one of these specific preconditions was met.
The three conditions were: the number of people climbing Uluru must drop from the current 38 percent of visitors to fewer than 20 percent; the attraction of the climb must no longer be the primary reason visitors travel to Uluru; and a range of new experiences be in place for visitors.
Garrett, who sang at Uluru about Aboriginal land rights during his former career as lead singer of rock band Midnight Oil, said the tourism industry was guaranteed at least 18 months notice before any closure so it could adjust its marketing.
Every year about 350,000 people visit Uluru -- previously known as Ayers Rock -- with 100,000 choosing to climb the 348-meter-high rock which is sacred to the local Aboriginal people.
But last year the board of the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park called for a ban on climbing the rock, a top tourism drawcard, out of respect for the indigenous owners.
They also voiced safety fears and concerns about visitors littering going to the toilet on the monolith, which is 9.4 kilometers in circumference.
But the proposed ban caused uproar in Australia's tourism sector, coming at a time when the industry was under threat from the global financial crisis.
A new management plan prepared by the board and approved by Environment Minister Peter Garrett yesterday ruled out banning the climb for now but left it open to be closed at a later date.
They set three conditions, saying the climb could be closed when one of these specific preconditions was met.
The three conditions were: the number of people climbing Uluru must drop from the current 38 percent of visitors to fewer than 20 percent; the attraction of the climb must no longer be the primary reason visitors travel to Uluru; and a range of new experiences be in place for visitors.
Garrett, who sang at Uluru about Aboriginal land rights during his former career as lead singer of rock band Midnight Oil, said the tourism industry was guaranteed at least 18 months notice before any closure so it could adjust its marketing.
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