Ayers Rock Resort for sale, Airport Development Group wants to keep it in ‘Australian Hands’

The only accommodation at a Red Centre icon is up for sale, and while parties involved are keeping tight lipped, one has made a firm stance – saying the resort should stay in ‘Australian hands’.

An aerial shot of Ayers Rock Resort with Uluru in the background. Picture; Voyages Tourism Australia

More details are emerging about who the new owner of the only accommodation a stone's throw from Uluru could be – with one Territory company wanting the resort to stay in “Australian hands”.

The Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation (ILSC) has placed the assets of its subsidiary, Voyages Indigenous Tourism for sale – meaning Ayers Rock Resort is on the market.

Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre, roughly 80km north of Cairns, is also set to be included in the sale, an ILSC spokesperson said.

The ILSC spokesperson said the corporation was “continuing to engage with a number of parties as part of the ongoing sale process” – but stopped short of naming who those parties could be.

Ayers Rock Resort has been nominated for two accolades in the World Tourism Awards.

The Australian has reported Journey Beyond – the American private equity backed operator of The Ghan – and the NT’s Airport Development Group are the two main parties looking to acquire the resort.

Journey Beyond refused to comment on its potential interest in acquiring Ayers Rock Resort.

But a spokesperson for Airport Development Group, which has operated Darwin International Airport, Alice Springs Airport and Tennant Creek Airport since 1998, made the local company’s stance clear.

“As a proud Australian company, ADG represents the investments of everyday Australians, through superannuation contributions, and would embrace the responsibility of safeguarding this culturally significant and iconic part of Australia’s heritage.” the spokesperson said.

“We recognise that Ayers Rock Resort and Airport is a unique and treasured Australian asset, and strongly believe that such an iconic destination should remain in Australian hands.”

Voyages Ayers Rock Resort

While the ISLC spokesperson said they “are not able to comment further on the status of the process”, they wanted to “emphasise the ISLC’s primary objective” – returning land to the Traditional Owners, a statutory obligation.

Central Land Council chief executive Les Turner confirmed the land council was“consulting with the Anangu traditional owners and providing governance capacity development and legal assistance”.

He said the CLC was not looking to acquire the resort or any of Voyages Indigenous Tourism’s assets.

Ayers Rock Resort has been valued at $380 million, with Greenhill and Gilbert and Tobin assisting with the sale.

The resort was purchased by the ISLC – a move which included Voyages – in 2011 for $310m.

Originally published as Ayers Rock Resort for sale, Airport Development Group wants to keep it in ‘Australian Hands’