It has been long debated whether tourists should be allowed to continue the trek up the side of Uluru and in one recent survey, three out of five Australian travellers disagreed with a proposed plan to ban tourists from climbing Uluru.
Outraged Australians have argued that Uluru is one of the country’s biggest tourism attractions and the proposed ban would affect tourism industries not only in the Northern Territory but across the whole of Australia.
1509 voters participated in the survey, which was conducted by leading online travel website totaltravel.com.
The survey follows the release of a draft management plan for the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, which calls for a ban on people climbing the 348-metre-high rock, which is sacred to indigenous people.
One voter commented: “Ayers Rock has been part of the Australian landscape far longer than any human has walked the earth." “It doesn't belong to anyone; it is just another feature of the earth we "ALL" live on. …Why should anyone have any rights to lay claim or dictate who can and who can't climb it? Why don't we all just try to share?”
However, 37 per cent of voters supported the proposed climbing ban – one voter voiced his support, “I believe respect for aboriginal sacred places, such as Uluru, is long-overdue. I believe tourists will be equally interested in learning about the cultural significance of Uluru if it is presented in a positive way.
“This is the era of tourism where tourists have a thirst for authentic learning experiences.”
Three per cent of people voted that they didn’t care one way or another.
totaltravel.com global marketing manager Paul Fisher said, “I think it’s important that travellers respect the cultural importance of Uluru to indigenous Australians, as well as its ecological fragility,” he said.
“We want to ensure that future generations will be able to enjoy Uluru too.”
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