Uluru itself has been a tourist destination for several decades. Everything you buy there is expensive. The summit elevation is 2844 feet. It is thought that two-thirds of the volume of the Rock lies underground. Special parking lots are set up to handle the traffic at the prime viewing spots.
Many people come to climb the rock.
It would be politically incorrect of me if I did not mention that the local Aboriginal community strongly discourages everyone from climbing. I, along with several hundred other tourists from all parts, chose to climb. and chose January 19th as the day to do it. The first half of the climb is reminiscent of hiking Half Dome. A cable attached to posts provides hand-holds to haul oneself up a steep rock face. However, extreme carelessness could easily be fatal here.