The Dambimangari Indigenous elders want to put a stop to boat trips through the famed Horizontal Falls in the Kimberley region.
It follows an incident which injured a dozen tourists last year.
The falls are a natural phenomenon of water rapids which pass through two narrow openings between headlands.
It creates a unique horizontal falls effect.
The Dambimangari want boat tours banned as operators have been known to skim over the water at dangerous speeds.
They are showing a lack of respect for a revered site and compromising safety, they say.
“They go on speed boats when the tides are pumping in full force. Accidents have happened in the past and we don’t want people to get hurt,” the elders said.
“We are happy for visitors to come to Dambimangari country if it is done the right way.”
“We have frequently voiced our concerns about safety.”
A WA government spokesperson said the Horizontal Falls is ‘an iconic tourism experience’ that created many jobs and boosts the local economy.
“We want to see horizontal falls remain open to visitors, so those economic benefits can continue.”
CEO of the WA Tourism Council, Evan Hall says tours should be conducted both safely and in a ‘culturally sensitive manner.’