Alienation of land through acquisition by foreigners

Nature

In countries with areas of great natural beauty, beaches, a pleasant climate, or a pleasant local culture, land or buildings may be purchased by foreigners. These acquisitions may then be exploited in a manner which prevents residents of the country from deriving benefit from them.

Incidence

Examples include: purchase of land on the shores of Lake Muskoka in Canada by American citizens, denying access of locals to the lake; purchase of high country land in New Zealand by US nationals, together with fishing and shooting rights. Some 3% of Swiss real estate is owned by foreigners.

Claim

Foreign ownership is only one component of non-resident ownership which is placing an upward pressure on rural land prices. Because the buyer from outside often has more disposable income, he is able to put more money into a land purchase thereby, in effect, creating unequal conditions of competition with the local buyer. It is also the case that speculators, indigenous and foreign-based, recognize opportunities for quick profits.