What (and how much) are Traditional Landowner Fees in the Kimberley?

The idea behind the traditional landowner fees is to provide the traditional landowners of the Kimberley with a fair share of the income generated by tourism in the region. These fees are collected by cruise companies and tour operators and then distributed among the traditional landowners. This provides an important source of income for the traditional landowners who have been historically marginalised.

Advocates for the traditional landowner fees argue that it is a way to recognise and support the rights and interests of the traditional landowners. They argue that the Kimberley region is not just a beautiful landscape but also a living cultural landscape that is shaped by the traditions and practices of the traditional landowners. By paying the traditional landowner fees, tourists would be contributing to the preservation of this cultural heritage and the well-being of the traditional landowners.

Travellers should be aware that everyone pays these fees in one way or another. Larger cruise operators tend to incorporate the TLO fees into their fares, while smaller vessels opt for a more transparent approach by setting out the fees separately on their invoices or collecting the fees on board.

Despite the controversy surrounding the fees, they are here to stay. And it is possible (likely?) that the idea of traditional landowner fees may spread to other Australian destinations in the near future.