In a letter sent to the World Heritage Centre in Paris, the Department of Natural Resources and Tourism says the 50km (30-mile) section of road across the park will "continue to be managed mainly for tourism and administrative purposes, as it is now".

BBC: Serengeti road scrapped over wildlife concerns

But this affair, besides its spectacular scale, coincides with slumps in tourism and natural resources, the mainstays of the region's poorer countries.

ECONOMIST: The Stanford affair

Gary Gray joined the cabinet as minister for resources and energy, tourism and small business, replacing Martin Ferguson.

BBC: Australian PM Gillard in reshuffle after 'unseemly' vote

The company, known as Planetary Resources, is also backed by space tourism pioneer Eric Anderson, X-Prize founder Peter Diamandis, Ross Perot Jr, son of the former US presidential candidate, and veteran astronaut Tom Jones.

BBC: Plans for asteroid mining emerge

Tuesday's announcement comes nine months after the unveiling of a similar project by Planetary Resources, a company led by space tourism pioneers Eric Anderson and Peter Diamandis.

CNN: 'Fireflies' to scope out space rocks for mining

Many in the state consider this good news, but there are perpetual cries that tourism is eroding local culture, infrastructure and natural resources.

ECONOMIST: Planning for change in America's most expensive state

Leps have so much ground to cover - tourism, hi-tech manufacturing, broadband, accessing EU money - but they haven't got the resources to do it.

BBC: Local Enterprise Partnerships face financial challenge