Expected Versus Experienced Liveability for Amenity Migrants in Cairns, Australia: The Grass is not Always Greener in the Tropics

This study explores Australian amenity migrants' experiences in Cairns, comparing expectations of a tropical paradise with lived realities. Using episodic narrative interviews and Importance-Performance Analysis of liveability indicators, it uncovers discrepancies between idealised imaginaries and actual experiences. Key concerns include housing, safety, jobs, living costs, and challenges in building community connections. The findings highlight the gap between the tropical paradise image attracting migrants and liveability challenges of a regional city. This mixed-methods approach offers a transferable tool for examining expectation-experience gaps in amenity destinations, providing insights for policymakers to address liveability issues and build communities that meet diverse residents' aspirations.

Urban Policy and Research

Urban Policy and Research

42

1476-7244

N/A

3

15