Tourists to be flown home after Uluru closure
UPDATE: A GROUP of tourists who flew to Uluru on Monday will be flown home without visiting the rock after traditional owners raised concerns over the coronavirus
Northern Territory
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UPDATE: A GROUP of tourists who flew to Uluru on Monday will be flown home without visiting the rock after traditional owners raised concerns over the coronavirus.
It comes after Parks Australia announced that Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park will remain temporarily closed after traditional owners expressed concerns about 42 passengers who arrived on a flight from Brisbane, which has been declared a COVID hotspot, in Yulara on Monday.
In a statement Voyages, the company that runs the Yulara resort and airport, said an empty plane will return to Yulara on Thursday to return guests home.
Jetstar has recently cancelled scheduled flights from Brisbane to Yulara on August 6, 10 and 13. Other flights to the airport have also reportedly been cancelled until the end of the month pending a review.
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Tourists to be flown home again after Uluru closure
EARLIER: ULURU-Kata Tjuta National Park will remain temporarily closed after traditional owners expressed concerns visitors were arriving from coronavirus hot spot zones on flights from Brisbane into Yulara on Monday.
Reopening protocols proposed by Mutitjulu Community Aboriginal Corporation (MCAC) are being considered by Parks Australia, as a sign of “utmost respect for Uluru-Kata Tjuta’s traditional owners”.
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The announcement was made yesterday following further discussions with Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia, the Central Land Council, Central Australian Aboriginal Congress and the NT government.
“(We) are continuing to work in good faith with them and all other parties to keep Mutitjulu residents safe,” a Parks Australia spokeswoman said.
MCAC alsoproposed any further flights to Uluru from COVID-19 declared hot spots be suspended.
MCAC general manager Glenn Irvine said they had suggested all people who were on the plane undertake a COVID-19 test.
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“If all those tests come back negative, we would then consider reopening the park,” Mr Irvine said.
Jetstar are currently operating two flights a week from Brisbane to Yulara Airport on Mondays and Thursdays.
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