The Ayers Rock Resort in Uluru will change hands to a US private equity-owned tourism company, as part of a deal that will see the resort's land and buildings returned to Traditional Owners.
The resort, owned by the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation (ILSC) and operated by the corporation's subsidiary Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia, is the sole accommodation option for tourists visiting Uluru.
The ILSC struck an agreement with "experiential tourism" company Journey Beyond, a firm owned by New York-based Crestview Partners that already operates notable tourism assets across Australia including the Ghan and Indian Pacific railways.
Journey Beyond will purchase the operational assets of Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia, which include the Ayers Rock Resort and the Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre in far north Queensland.
Land and buildings at both locations will be transferred to Traditional Owners, the Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara and the Kuku Yalanji, respectively.
The ILSC was set up in 1995, a decade after the historic Mabo High Court decision that recognised Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal traditional title to land.
However, a government agreement required Aṉangu to lease the park to the Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service for 99 years.
Land returned after years of work
The latest partnership deal will see the communities paid rent from Journey Beyond's leasing of the sites on 90 and 10-year leases, respectively.
ILSC chief executive Joe Morrison said the deal was "the culmination of years of work" to transfer the land to Traditional Owners, with more than $500 million in benefits to flow to the First Nations community.
"We are pleased to move closer to fulfilling the ILSC's statutory obligations of returning land to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples," he said in a statement on Friday.
Journey Beyond chief executive Chris Tallent said the company had worked with Indigenous communities across Australia and the agreement aligned with its goal to create "immersive, authentic and uniquely Australian" experiences.
The transaction is expected to be finalised early in 2026, with the divestment of the Yulara land to Aṉangu also expected to be finalised in 2026.
The Yulara Anangu Corporation board said Traditional Owners were happy with the decision and described the agreement as "an investment in our future that will bring benefits in employment, education and support for Anangu enterprises".
"We look forward to working closely with Journey Beyond in the development of world-class Indigenous tourism experiences that will share our language, our culture and our rich landscapes with visitors from all over Australia and around the world," the board said.
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