Private island

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Skorpios , private island of the Greek shipowner Aristoteles Onassis (1906–1975) in the Ionian Sea

A private island is an island owned by a private individual or a company . Although the exclusivity of an island gives the owner substantial control over their ownership, the laws of the governments of the associated countries and states also apply here .

property

Compared to a plot of land on the mainland, an island has significantly more restricted access, both for unauthorized persons and for residents, who have to transport all supplies by ship or plane. Cattle were and are kept on some islands because they are surrounded by the sea and act as a natural fence that prevents the animals from escaping. There are many thousands of uninhabited islands around the world with commercial potential for holiday resorts or for private recreation. Commercial development of an uninhabited island can also improve an island's ecosystem, many having endangered and fragile flora and fauna . Some private islands have been left untouched by the owners, some are built on and others are developed for tourism with a hotel resort, a port facility or a runway for smaller planes. Some celebrities have their own private islands.

There are very different guidelines and requirements from governments regarding private islands. In the People's Republic of China , for example, islands cannot be bought directly, but can only be leased from the government for a maximum period of 40–70 years. Virtually all islands in the world are claimed and administered by the governments of the countries. The laws of the country apply; any effort by the island owner to gain sovereignty over the area is generally unrealistic.

However, some people are still trying to start their own micronations on islands. According to international law, only islands that protrude from the water when the tide is high can be claimed. Some people have therefore tried to create their own sovereign island, like real estate millionaire Michael Oliver. In 1971 he tried to found the independent city-state " Republic of Minerva " on an artificially built island in the South Pacific.

Private islands in Scotland , Brazil , Chile and other countries are not legally completely private. The foreshore, such as B. Beaches, is owned by the state and therefore public, accessible property. The same applies in the Nordic countries (with the exception of Denmark): Only the house and the immediate vicinity are legally protected against trespassing. The waters around it are freely accessible, the so-called everyone's right applies here . In the past, some cruise lines gave their passengers access to small, unpopulated islands. This led to the shipping companies buying islands, also to improve the quality of stay and to have more control.

"Pearl Island" in So Kwun Wat, Hong Kong , is an island with a closed, private residential complex .

Location and prices

Prices tend to be lower in Nova Scotia , parts of Michigan , Maine and Central America, while prices are higher in Europe , the Bahamas and French Polynesia . Islands in good locations and with good infrastructure have a higher market value, but are not sold as often. Some are available to rent for vacationers, a trend that got bigger in the 2000s when the financial crisis made it more difficult for some owners to maintain the islands.

The real estate bubble in the US in the 2000s caused prices for many private islands to fall. At the same time, the development of islands has been restricted by environmental movements , which means that fewer private islands come onto the market.

Indonesia is an archipelago of 17,000 islands, the Philippines consists of around 7,100 islands. The purchase regulations are very strict for foreigners and the ownership rights of many islands are unclear or they are already settled. Therefore, private islands in Southeast Asia are considered prohibitively expensive, as there is also a high demand from hotel developers.

Villas are now being built and sold alongside luxury hotels on private islands. This results in additional sources of income for the island owner and the villa buyers have an exclusive retreat without having to bear the entire costs.

The Canadian government has decided to buy 100 private islands on the east coast of the Atlantic province of Nova Scotia and to declare them nature reserves. As part of the “100 Wild Islands Legacy Campaign”, ecological diversity is to be preserved.

literature

  • Michael Waibel, Tanja Thimm, Werner Kreisel: Fragile Island Worlds: Tourism, Environment and Indigenous Cultures Horlemann, B; Edition: 1st edition (May 2005), ISBN 978-3-89502-204-3
  • Selinsky, Debbie: Private 'Island? (March 1996) Cruise Travel. ISSN  0199-5111

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ My cattle, my inn, my island! . Retrieved July 20, 2015.
  2. ↑ HOG ISLAND SHEEP . Retrieved July 20, 2015.
  3. ↑ Michael Waibel, Tanja Thimm, Werner Kreisel: Fragile Island Worlds: Tourism, Environment and Indigenous Cultures Horlemann, B; Edition: 1st edition (May 2005), ISBN 978-3-89502-204-3
  4. ↑ Celebrities Who Own Private Islands! . Retrieved July 20, 2015.
  5. ↑ China Real Estate Laws, Part I Islands! . Retrieved July 20, 2015.
  6. ^ United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea . Retrieved July 20, 2015.
  7. ^ Caribbean dreams: The private islands of the shipping companies . Retrieved July 20, 2015.
  8. ↑ Private beaches of the cruise lines: My ship, my island, my sand . Retrieved July 20, 2015.
  9. ↑ Selinsky, Debbie: Private 'Island? (March 1996) Cruise Travel. ISSN  0199-5111
  10. ↑ a b c d The Allure of Buying Your Own Private Island . In: Nytimes.com . Retrieved July 20, 2015.
  11. ↑ It Doesn't Take Millions to Buy a Private Island . Retrieved July 20, 2015.
  12. ^ Island Hopping to Your Own Island . Retrieved July 20, 2015.
  13. ↑ Exclusive and active vacation on a private island in the Florida Keys . Retrieved July 20, 2015.
  14. ↑ a b A life for the island . In: Manager magazine . Retrieved July 20, 2015.
  15. ↑ Buying a private piece of paradise . In: Nytimes.com . Retrieved July 20, 2015.
  16. ^ Foreigners Buying and Leasing Property in Southeast Asia . Retrieved July 20, 2015.
  17. ↑ Canada: Progress Made in Plans to Purchase 100 Islands for Nature Protection . In: Privateislandnews.com . Retrieved July 20, 2015.
  18. ↑ Worldwide: Private Islands in Public Hands - The Future of the Private Island Market? . Retrieved July 20, 2015.