Aquatopia
In 3215, Aquatopia became the fifth floating city on Earth, and the first to be primarily a tourist destination, with no permanent residents aside from the staff who worked in the various hotels, resorts and attractions. It flourished as a prime holiday destination for nearly two centuries, but with the plan to expand it into a metropolis came its downfall.
The new city was named Topiapolis, and consisted of twelve sections connected by bridge, one of which was the original Aquatopia. As Central Topiapolis grew in financial prosperity and political power, making it a prime tourist destination in itself, Aquatopia's popularity plummeted and so did its property values. Several hotels went out of business and were converted into accommodation, which began a conversion of the outer areas of the section into cheap residential neighbourhoods.
By the mid-35th century, Aquatopia was a notably downmarket tourist option, offering nothing that Central Topiapolis did not and at much lower quality. A huge revival project focused on the centre of the island, where most of the remaining tourist features were located. The project demolished and rebuilt hotels, refurbished and expanded the once-cutting edge water park, built huge casinos and man-made luxury beaches, all featuring unique styles and quirks to draw visitors. The investment paid off, as Aquatopia became a thriving tourist destination once again.
The crime rate in Aquatopia, which had been one of the highest in Topiapolis, initially dipped after the revival project. However over time the rate of white-collar crime and prostitution increased greatly. Aquatopia was nicknamed "New Vegas" and regarded as the "pleasure capital" of Topiapolis.
The reputation led to a second revival attempt, this one planning to focus on the outlying residential areas, converting them into luxury homes. The current residents were made offers on their homes more than double their current value, but there was a public outcry as not everyone wanted to move to a different area of Topiapolis and no-one would have been able to afford the new property prices. After months of debate, protests and political pressure, the project was scrapped.
Comments