AN Aboriginal group in Western Australia has begun charging cruise ship operators a fee to visit 50 visitor locations in the Kimberley.
The Wunambal Gaambera Aboriginal Corporation (WGAC) said it had introduced the Uunguu Visitor Pass under a plan which aims to help traditional owners look after culture, create jobs & develop tourism products.
Over the next five years WGAC plans to establish ranger stations at key visitor locations, with traditional owners welcoming, guiding and sharing culture with travellers and developing capacity for rangers to interact with passengers on cruise vessels.
For 2017, cruise operators face a one-off $200 payment per registered pax berth, per vessel but in 2018 the levy will be $86 per registered passenger berth per voyage and for 2019/20 it will rise to $152.
Currently Silversea, Cannon Charters & Ocean Dream Charters are the only tour operators listed as having been granted access to the Uunguu Coast by WGAC.
Aurora Expeditions said it supported the move by the WGAC in principal & over coming weeks would study the details, assess the likely implications and seek further clarity on the fee.
