B11

The growth of tourism infrastructure related to the base of Ayers Rock, or Uluru began in the 1950s. Soon it started to produce adverse environmental impacts.

ENVIRONMENT

B12

It was decided in the early 1970s to remove all accommodation-related tourist facilities and re-establish them outside the park. In 1975, a reservation of 104 square kilometres of land beyond the park’s northern boundary was chosen as the site for a new resort.

RESERVE

B13

A year or two later, the development of a tourist facility and an associated airport, to be known as Yulara started.

DEVELOP

B14

The camp ground within the park was closed in 1983 and the motels closed in late 1984, coinciding with the opening of the luxurious resort. In 1992, the majority interest in the Yulara resort held by the Northern Territory government/governor was sold and the resort was renamed Ayers Rock Resort.

GOVERN

B15

Since listing the park as a World Heritage Site, the annual number of visitors rose to over 400,000 people by the year 2000.

VISIT

B16

Increased tourism provides regional and national economic benefits. It also presents an ongoing challenge to balance conservation of cultural values and tourists’ needs.

CULTURE