Uluru: A Cultural Landform

Uluru a cultural landform

TABLE OF CONTENT
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
KEY CONCEPTS ...........................................................................................................................1
Should tourists be able to climb the rock ....................................................................................1
Effects of closing the rock...........................................................................................................2
REVIEW AND IMPLICATION OF GLOBE MODEL ................................................................2
Identifying cross cultural miscommunication using GLOBE models of culture ........................2
RECOMMENDATION AND CONCLUSION ..............................................................................4
REFERENCES ...............................................................................................................................5

INTRODUCTION
Uluru which is also known as the Ayers Rock is the largest sandstone rock structure and
is situated in central Australia. The rock is sacred to Pitjantjatjara Anangu, aboriginals of the
region (Hendrickx, 2018). Uluru is one of the most attractive feature of Uluru Kata Tjuta
national park and is also listed in world heritage sites of UNESCO. The climbing on rock has
been in question from long time by aboriginals on the grounds of cultural and spiritual
significance of rock as well as for the environment, site protection and safety of visitors. The
report will discuss the different perspectives associated with climbing and impact of closing
rock. It will also evaluate the cross cultural miscommunication by applying GLOBE model.
KEY CONCEPTS
Should tourists be able to climb the rock
Uluru has great significance in terms of spirituality. In 1983 when Anangu were given
the authority as traditional custodians of rock it was also agreed that climbing will be banned.
Though spiritual significance of the rock is prime concern due to which tourists must not be
allow to climb the rock but visitor safety is also one of the driving force for such decision. The
land is considered as dreamtime track and thus Anangu's repeatedly request the visitors to not
climb the land as respect to their culture. Uluru rock is also highest rock and thus high speed
winds, high temperature also cause dehydration and vast health challenges for the visitors (Olson
and Dowling, 2018). As a result of this there are significant number of deaths due to this
recreational climbing.
Another reason which supports the claim to prohibit tourists from climbing is that since
place is considered as sacred similar to church for Anangu's thus activities such as golfing,
nudity or striptease on climbing act as insult or disrespect to the beliefs of aboriginals and
sacredness of the rock. The traditional Tjukurpa beliefs also restricts photography or gender liked
rituals and thus visitors are requested to not climb on rocks or to encourage photography. It has
been also argued by the officials and local communities that the tourists must not climb the rock
for the sake of its protection from heritage perspective.
With increasing number of climbing activities rocks are scraped and the natural heritage
is also damaged by increasing tourism activities such as landfills at the height or the climbing
route (Hendrickx, 2019). It not only act as concern from spiritual purpose but also from
sustainability purpose. In addition to these factors the steep rock also has huge safety concerns
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