PL: 77th most livable city

According to Mercer Human Resource Consulting, which provides advice to multinational companies on international assignments, PL has been ranked as the 77th most livable city in the world based on 39 key quality-of-life issues. They include political stability, currency-exchange regulations, political and media censorship, school quality, housing, the environment and public safety. Mercer collected the data between September and November of 2006 and considered 215 cities around the globe. Switzerland's main commercial and cultural center, Zurich, topped the list this year, followed by Geneva, and Vancouver and Vienna, which tied for third.

Apparently the biggest factors were stunning physical beauty hence the large number of Australian and New Zealand cities, and the safe streets and excellent public transportation found in Japanese cities such as Tokyo, Yokohama, and Osaka make these highly desirable places to live.

PL definitely has the beauty factor especially if it can develop high density luxury properties to the north and south of the waterfront (like in Miami). The streets are relatively safe although a better police presence would help. The transport system in PL is atrocious and needs to be dramatically improved. Other major factors in addition to infrastructure and property are good restaurants, shopping, and entertainment which in Mauritius is spread out all over the place.

If anything Dubai has showed build it and they will come. Look at Anahita sold out almost instantaneously; people are obsessed with Mauritius. Many of the people who bought at Anahita have never even been to that part of the island before.