IN April 2021, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) published a short list of celebrities who own private islands, which included Beyoncé, Brad Pitt, David Copperfield, Eddie Murphy, Faith Hill, George Clooney, Leonardo DiCaprio, Mel Gibson, Ricky Martin, and Shakira.
Unlike common folks who are left to their own devices and seldom bothered by others in public, celebrities are easily recognisable and wish to be left alone when they are not adorned for public events, fully groomed with make-up, dressed to kill and escorted by bodyguards to boost image.
They may bask in the limelight while promoting their popularity but have lost their privacy when out in the public.
Some are hounded by paparazzi, although these activities could be staged by their agents. The photos taken with juicy comments are splashed across tabloids for publicity.
Sadly, paparazzi go to great lengths and can be ruthless chasing after prized catches. Tragically, Princess Diana was killed in a high-speed car crash in the limousine she was travelling in while being pursued by paparazzi in 1997―on the day we were celebrating our country’s independence.
The reasons to own private islands are many, such as getting away from it all and enjoying the privacy, connecting closely to nature by being surrounded by flora and fauna, and sea teeming with marine life. And the prestige of owning such a property that others could only dream of.
However, in December 2022, SCMP published “Why owning a private island isn’t as glamorous as it looks”. While some can be bought cheaply, accessibility is a big issue, along with huge amounts needed to have basic necessities such as food, shelter, water and electricity supply.
Alone in their own islands, they are easy targets for plundering pirates coming ashore to rob and extort to the max before scooting off into the open sea.
However, it is feasible to build a resort on one’s private island with all the facilities, amenities, comfort, convenience, safety and security.
For privacy similar to having your own private island, a large piece of uninhabited land in the interior can also offer the same. It is safe from tsunamis but not from zillions of mosquitoes.
As it is off grid, there is no public supply of electricity and water, and there is also the issue of security.
Hence, whenever I watch photos and videos of deserted beaches or idyllic jungles, I know they are not suitable places for me to stay. Even a brief visit would be a costly affair.
Therefore, I was not enchanted by the many beautiful images portraying nature at its best in tourism promotions.
But I would love to own a big piece of land in the countryside where there is electricity and water supply.
Apart from erecting a big farm house, the land can be used to grow flowers, vegetables and fruits, and have free range chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, guinea fowls, and fish in ponds.
When ready, it would be opened to visitors with a restaurant serving fresh produce from my farm and surrounding areas.
That would be more meaningful than just enjoying privacy on my own island or home in the wilderness, by positively contributing to tourism and the local economy. ‒ June 9, 2025
YS Chan is the master trainer for Mesra Malaysia and Travel and Tours Enhancement Course. He is an Asean Tourism Master Trainer and also a tourism and transport business consultant.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
Main image: Pexels/Fabian Wiktor
