‘This is so disrespectful’: Outrage as hundreds of tourists flock to Uluru to climb sacred Aboriginal rock before it’s banned forever
- Tourists are flocking to the sacred rock as the ban on climbing inches closer
- Many were disgusted by the actions of tourists who show no respect for the site
- Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park board agreed to ban climbing from October 26
Outrage has been sparked as hundreds of tourists flock to Uluru to climb the sacred Aboriginal rock before the national park bans it forever.
A radio listener called into ABC Alice Springs stating that Uluru is packed with people waiting to climb it and sent an accompanying photo of people scaling the rock.
‘There’s cars parked for one kilometre on either side of the road leading up to the car park at the base’ the caller said.
A radio listener called into ABC Alice Springs stating that Uluru is packed with people waiting to climb the rock and sent an accompanying photo people scaling the rock
The Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park board decided unanimously they would forbid people from climbing the sacred rock in 2017. The ban will come into effect on October 26.
Park manager Mike Misso said people were rushing to UIuru because they knew this would be their last chance to climb the sacred rock.
‘What we expect is a bit of a blip because this is people coming for their bucket list,’ Mr Misso said to the ABC.
However, multiple people have taken to social media to share their disgust over the actions of tourists as they believed it is extremely disrespectful towards Aboriginal people to climb the rock.
‘I always have wanted to climb the rock, however, after learning how disrespectful it is to the indigenous people I’ve decided that I just wouldn’t do it,’ one person said.
‘This is so disrespectful, the landowners ask and explain why they don’t want you up there, respect their wishes,’ another said.
The Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park board decided unanimously in 2017 they would be banning people from climbing the sacred rock which will come into effect on October 26 (stock image)
‘Went there a couple of years ago. Really wanted to climb it, however, I just couldn’t do it. Just felt wrong. So observed the rock’s beauty and enjoyed the moment,’ another stated.
Accommodation in the tourist hub of Yulara, over 440km south-east of Alice Springs, has been struggling to keep up with tourist numbers since the ban was announced.
‘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,’ Mr Misso said.
To continue attracting more tourists, the park will be focusing on its culture and history.
New ideas are being negotiated with commercial tourist operators which will include ventures between traditional owners and business in order to appease both parties.
Andrew Peters, a senior lecturer in Indigenous tourism at Swinburne University, said the new ventures had potential and should focus more on the Aboriginal people instead of tourists looking for a quick selfie.
‘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.’
Park manager Mike Misso said people were rushing to UIuru because they knew this would be their last chance to climb the sacred rock (stock image)