Traditional owners completely ignored

Tourists are bragging on social media about climbing Uluru with some abusive messages for traditional owners.

A huge line of tourists climbing up Uluru. Picture: Glenn Minett

Tourists are bragging about climbing Uluru despite knowing that traditional owners have urged them to show respect for the sacred site.

Hundreds of tourists have flocked to the site in recent weeks leaving rubbish behind, dumping human waste from caravans and trespassing as a ban on the climb inches closer.

Some have taken to Instagram to post pictures of themselves at the top of the site while others have shown complete disregard for the wishes of Anangu traditional owners on Facebook.

“Have climbed it and definitely worth it … I dont give a s**t,” said one tourist in a backpacker forum.

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An Australian tourist also said he would still try to climb Uluru after the ban comes into effect in October this year.

“Australians have a birthright to climb Uluru. Regardless see ya there in 2020, ” the man said online.

In a statement by Sammy Wilson, chair of the board of management of Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park, the traditional owner said the sacred site is not a playground.

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“It is an extremely important place, not a playground or theme park like Disneyland. We want you to come, hear us and learn,” Mr Wilson said.

“If I travel to another country and there is a sacred site, an area of restricted access, I don’t enter or climb it, I respect it. It is the same here for Anangu … we are not stopping tourism, just this activity.”

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The climb ban has sparked fierce debate with One Nation leader Pauline Hanson claiming the ban will be bad for the tourism industry and that it is comparable to closing Bondi Beach.

However a leading tourism expert has rubbished Ms Hanson’s claims as “sensationalist”.

Griffith University Associate Professor of Indigenous tourism Michelle Whitford said the ban would be better for tourism in the long run.

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“It will actually be bad for tourism if they keep climbing the rock and continue leaving rubbish and litter all over the place,” Ms Whitford said.

“There’s so many other attractions. It’s not as if you can’t go near Uluru or look at it.”

Mr Wilson said he hopes people will understand the culture and law of the land.

“Over the years Anangu have felt a sense of intimidation, as if someone is holding a gun to our heads to keep it open,” he said.

“Please don’t hold us to ransom …”