A resort island (French Île-hôtel; "hotel island") is a hotel complex located on an island; in many cases one luxury hotel may own the entire island. More broadly, resort island can be defined as any island or an archipelago that contains resorts, hotels, overwater bungalows, restaurants, tourist attractions and its amenities, and might offer all-inclusive accommodations. It primary focus on tourism services and offer leisure, adventure, and amusement opportunities.
Resort island is often confused or identified with island resort, which is a resort located on an island. Island resort is almost the same with seaside resort or beach resort, which offers beaches and water sport activities, such as sunbathing, swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving and surfing, the only difference is that seaside resorts might located on the continent's seaside, while island resorts must be located on an island or archipelago. Maldives has the most island resorts in the world.
Resort islands mostly rely on their natural environment to attract visitors, such as beaches, biodiversity of coral reefs and forest, or secluded and private locations. Others might rely on their man-made built attractions, such as spas, amusement parks, casinos or nightlife.
On the one hand, the development of a small island into a resort often entails serious environmental degradation (reef digging, sewage, sand pumping...); on the other, a resort island complex can provide shelter for heavily poached species, as resorts own security services that no marine protected area can afford.
Resort islands around the world
Australia
Bedarra Island
Brampton Island
Daydream Island
Dunk Island
Fitzroy Island (Queensland) Great Keppel Island Green Island (Queensland) Haggerstone Island Hamilton Island (Queensland) Hayman Island Hinchinbrook Island Lindeman Island Lizard Island Long Island (Whitsunday Islands) South Molle Island
China
Hainan
France
Corsica
French Polynesia
Bora Bora
Moorea
Tahiti
Greece
Mykonos
Santorini
Crete
India
Bangaram Island
Indonesia
Bali
Lombok
Gili Islands
Bintan Island resort
Saronde Island
Moyo Island resort
Wakatobi
Iran
Kish
Italy
Capri
Sicily
Sardinia
Japan
Okinawa Islands
Korea
Jeju
Malaysia
Langkawi
Sabah
Mexico
Cozumel
Isla Mujeres
Holbox
Mozambique
Vamizi Island
Bazaruto Archipelago
Philippines
Amanpulo
Balesin Island Club
Boracay
Coron
Mactan
Siargao
Portugal
Madeira
Singapore
Sentosa Island
Spain
Ibiza
Mallorca
Canary Islands
Taiwan
Penghu Islands
Tanzania
Zanzibar
Thailand
Ko Samui
Phuket
United States
Hawaii
Washington Island (Wisconsin)