Rda_AliceSprings

Hello my name is Rebecca and I am currently a student studying for my International Baccalaureate. I am carry out an investigation into the pattern between tourism and visitors of Uluru. It would help me greatly if you could please answer the questions below, it shouldn't take too long. Please try and be as honest as possible, your names will not be used in the survey.

Thank you for your help .

Name: (* Optional)
Gender: M F Age:
Single Traveller: Family Group: Group: Couple:
Nationality: :

On your visit to Uluru , did you climb it or do the walk around the base?
If not, if you were to visit would you climb Uluru?
What are your reasons for doing so?
Have you been informed about Uluru and its cultural significance to the local people?
Any other comments/opinions on Uluru.

AlanJG

Suggest you set up an email address to which people can send their answers. The problems with self selecting groups of respondents should be evident to you but if not, ask your supervisor. Also your questionnaire does not consider how long ago people visited and if their response would be different now.

longhorn55

Alan makes some good points. I've been twice to Uluru during the past 20 years and my answers would vary depending on which visit I was describing. If you set up an email address, I should be happy to answer your questions.

Peter_S_Aus

Name: Peter_s_Aus
Gender: Male Age: Now 62.
I’ve travelled to Ularu 4 times, twice as single traveller, twice with a partner.
Nationality: Australian, resident of Melbourne:

On your visit to Uluru , did you climb it or do the walk around the base?
First trip, about 15 years ago, I climbed the rock. I would not climb it again – on that first trip I was unaware of the cultural significance of climbing. I’ve walked around the base once, and done a guided walk from the cultural centre to the base of the rock.

If not, if you were to visit would you climb Uluru?
I advise people not to climb.
What are your reasons for doing so? Two reasons for not climbing. One, it is dangerous, particularly when windy or hot. Two – it is culturally intrusive, in the same way as say, one would not practice rock climbing on the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem, or sprint up the steps of the Shrine in Melbourne.

Have you been informed about Uluru and its cultural significance to the local people? I think that the culturall centre works well, in giving an understanding of why Uluru is about, the legends about its creation.

Any other comments/opinions on Uluru. No.

Now, some comments on the questionnaire and the results that you’ll get. This is a self selecting survey, so you won’t get opinions from people who think neither one way or the other. That’s not a big deal, as the work of an IB student is not going to shape tourism policy in the NT. When you submit your work, it is important that you clearly describe the methodology that you used to create your survey results. But you can draw conclusions from who responds - "Respondents were either pro, or anti, climbing. There were few respondents who cared neither one way or the other."

There was a discussion about this – climbing. It is here:
http://www.fodors.com/community/aust...ayers-rock.cfm

The IB is a tough gig, and so best wishes for your studies.

peterSale

Name: PeterSale
Gender: M Age: 44
Couple:
Nationality: Australian
On your visit to Ayers Rock , did you climb it or do the walk around the base?
We climbed it in July this year. I spent five hours in total on the rock exploring the summit walking all the way to the end and across to the far side and back in giant circle.
We did two walks (3hrs total) at the base of the rock and drove around it twice.
We watched the sunset on two nights from two different sites.
We also spent a day at the Olgas.

If not, if you were to visit would you climb Ayers Rock?
If I returned, I would climb it again and would recommend it to any visitor.

What are your reasons for doing so?
I am fascinated with geomorphology and geology and the only way to truly understand the processes which formed Ayers Rock is to climb it and experience it.
The exploration of the top of the rock was a way for me to connect with my God. Exploring geological sites is my church.
Climbing the rock is a significant part of the Australian Culture.It is a dream many people have. It is considered an achievement to climb it. Visiting the rock is considered to be a "once in a life time experience". I spoke with about 50 people about the climb and why they did it and what they felt about the management issues such as closing the climb. Many had a very negative attitude to the park management and to the aborigines as a result of their experience at the rock.(I am an Environmental Scientist.)

Have you been informed about Ayers Rock and its cultural significance to the local people?
Yes, hard not to, and we spent a brief time in the propaganda center.
There is very little in the park that explains the geological formation of the rock. To get this in any detail you need to visit the Information Centre at the Ayers Rock Resort. It is appalling that only one view is given in a National Park/World Heritage Area. Remembering that it was declared a World Heritage Area for its geology (1987)long before it was declared for its culture (1994).

Any other comments/opinions on Ayers Rock.
I too suggest you read the link Peter_S_Aus has directed you to on this site. It will give you the two main views, as Peter and I had a long discussion on this topic and areof opposing views. It will also save Peter and me from repeating ourselves.

Some things that weren't mentioned iin the debate:-

Many people will compare it with a church. This is a false and misleading argument. Other than the obvious that one is natural and one is man made, Churches are built for a specific purpose after a religion is created and Ayers Rock is a geological feature that has had religious/cultural meanings added to it. This is not to deny their significance to that culture. A true comparison needs to be made between other geological sites around the world that have cultural significance. These sites need to be managed so that all cultures can appreciate what nature has created and not be dominated by one cultural/religious bias.

One last point, the image the average tourist sees of aborigines is not generally flattering. They will see the positive at the rock with some guides, the cultural centre and perhaps dance or two. But when they visit Alice Springs and/or Coober Pedy they see a totally different image. That of people sitting around doing nothing, some beggars and some drunks. They will see billboards about the legalities of bringing alcohol and pornography into the area. They will be verbally attacked by some. When they go shopping it is unlikely they will be served by aborigines. They are more likely to be served by a backpacker from another country.

What does the average tourist think? "I have worked hard paid my taxes and saved up to do this once in a life time trip with my family and what do I see? My taxes being spent to pay for aborigines to sit around and do nothing. Is that fair?"

Ayers Rock is a token. Most people don't really care as it has no impact on their daily lives. But asked them if they would be willing to pay an extra $10-20 in taxes to ensure all aborigines have access to quality health and education services and see how far you get.

You have stepped into a political and cultural minefield. Good Luck!

dotty

I was in both Alice and Uluru/Ayers Rock in early July, and would be happy to give my opinions if you set up an email address.

Libretto

"It is considered an achievement to climb it.'

Some also consider it insulting, ignorant, damaging to the "rock" and arrogant in the extreme.

Susan7

Well said Libretto!

AlanJG

Hear! hear!