As there are so few freehold islands in the Pacific that may be acquired by foreigners, prices of those that come onto the market are high. Demand has also been influenced by growing interest from residents of Japan and Hong Kong. In Fiji a good island will sell for at least USD 500,000 and in French Polynesia even more. Fiji has become the host for private islands being developed with resorts meeting international standards. Here, next to the Maldives, you will find the most island resorts in the world.

The Philippines, with over 7,000 islands, would be a marvellous market if the government ever decided to relax controls. At present islands can not be bought by foreigners.