Iconic Uluru's Ayers Rock Resort Acquired by American Tourism Firm

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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.

In a significant move, the land and buildings at two key locations will be returned to their Traditional Owners, the Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara and the Kuku Yalanji peoples.

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.

Despite this transfer, an arrangement with the government stipulates that the Aṉangu will lease the park back to the Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service for a period of 99 years.

Chris Tallent, the chief executive of Journey Beyond, stated that the company has collaborated extensively with Indigenous communities throughout Australia. He emphasized that this agreement supports their mission to deliver “immersive, authentic, and uniquely Australian” experiences.

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.