Climbing Uluru could be banned The giant red landmark, located in the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, is sacred to the Anangu, the Aboriginal people of the area, who have jointly run the park with the Australian Government since 1985. It seems the plea is working as recent figures show only 20 per cent of visitors to Uluru attempted a climb, a fall from 38 per cent in 2010 and a big decrease from the 74 per cent who did so in 1990. Parks Australia has reportedly installed climb counters to determine the exact numbers who still do so. According to the Australian Daily Telegraph, the national body plans to close the attraction to climbers permanently, pending a consultation process, should the number fall below 20 per cent. A spokeswoman told the newspaper: "We will consult both the tourism industry and operators well before any decision is made to close the climb. We also want to ensure we have more alternative experiences - more indigenous-guided tours, for example - in place for visitors before that happens. As well as the ethical concerns, there are also environmental and safety considerations for visitors who want to climb Uluru. Thirty-six people have died attempting to reach the top and there are concerns about erosion and the lack of facilities at the summit. The park management promotes other treks, such as guided walks around the rock's base. It also occasionally closes the park for cultural reasons, such as the death of an elder associated with caring for the site.