The State Government has restructured admission fees for Rottnest Island to reflect a new and fairer approach.

As part of this approach, Tourism Minister Liz Constable also announced that for the first time there would be a discounted fee for families.

Dr Constable said the new fees structure would ensure that the costs of maintaining Rottnest Island were fairly distributed across all visitors.

The Minister said it would also ensure that the Rottnest Island Authority was properly self-funded and did not need regular hand-outs from the State Government.

“The State Government is strongly of the view that all visitors to the island should pay their fair share,” she said.

“It is entirely appropriate that day-trippers to the island pay a lower admission fee than those visitors on an extended stay.

“The new structure will help offset the costs of infrastructure, facilities and services and protecting the environmental and cultural heritage of the island.”

Dr Constable said the new fees would apply from July 1, 2009, with annual CPI increases for the next five years. She said the changes brought Rottnest Island into line with admission fees charged by many other tourism destinations, such as the Perth Zoo.

Accommodation costs in the recently refurbished Kingstown precinct will rise from July 1 this year. The new fees range from $35 per night (up from $26) for an adult at the youth hostel, to $525 per night (up from $430) for an 18-bed cottage in Governor’s Circle and $480 per night (up from $404) for an 18-bed dormitory in Kingstown Barracks.

The increases are consistent with the approach adopted after the refurbishment of accommodation on other parts of the island to recover costs. The refurbishment of accommodation on the island is now complete.