Israel’s plans for the world’s lowest position in one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations will see the country draw inspiration from two places that already attract millions of visitors a year: the Maldives and Dubai.
Plans for a series of new hotels along the Dead Sea will aim to renew tourism in the domain and remake the sea coast, with a number of islands, peninsulas and man-made coves, as well as tropical-style assets with cabins perched on stilts in the sea, evolving to stretch the sea coast and put more tourists than ever in the water.
Israeli officials push tourism to the Dead Sea to be key to reaching the goal of 10 million visitors a year by 2030. With the sea shrinking rapidly, leaving ancient resorts miles from shore and turning the former sea coast into a damaging expanse of sinkholes, tourist efforts are directed to the huge evaporative basins south of the Dead Sea, where most of the region’s major hotels are already located.
The ponds, which are filled with water from the Dead Sea and used through ICL (formerly Israel Chemicals Ltd. ) to extract potash, bromine and magnesium, are regularly advertised as components of the sea, and few tourists know they float on a commercial site.
The program aims to double tourist accommodation at the Dead Sea by adding 4,000 to 5,000 rooms along a long promenade by 2026, filling much of the remaining open ground between Ein Bokek, at the northern end of the ponds, and Neve Zohar, about 3. 5 kilometers away. (2. 2 miles) to the south.
Seven hotel tenders have been awarded, out of 17 potential projects, and the Ministry of Tourism has already invested more than NIS billion ($344 million) to enlarge the promenade along the sea coast to the south and build the new landforms.
The hotels will be the first new ones in the region in 3 decades, according to Shimon Daniel, chief executive of Dead Sea Preservation Government Company, a clearing house of the tourism ministry for the development of the Dead Sea.
The developers say that 3 islands are being built as a component of the development, however, the published plans show a landform, still technically connected to the land, which can be classified as such.
The island, which is already built, will house a large dome that will be used as an exhibition center with capacity for another 5,000 people with first-class devices and 360-degree projection lighting.
Developer Bercleys Papo, a partnership between Dead Sea developer Bercleys and Papo Maritime, a subsidiary of Nakash Brothers that recently controls the port of Eilat, expects the exhibition center to attract large-scale commercial events in the region.
The island is attached to a pier jutting out into the sea, which will feature a hotel and spa, according to published plans.
Bercleys Papo, which is also building two towers with luxury bed and breakfast and condominiums as part of the project, says the dome is shipped almost entirely to the country and will be operational within six months.
Elsewhere in the project, a hotel is expected to be built that will mimic Maldives’ famous guesthouses on stilts just above the water, connected to others and the land via a boardwalk.
Current plans call for 35 overwater guest villas, though the project tender calls for a 198-room hotel over the water, meaning some villas would possibly have more than one bedroom.
Another hotel planned for the assignment will feature a series of entrances, bringing water to visitors on the other side.
Although not included in the existing project, a domain master plan includes a man-made peninsula nailed to the lake where the hotel will be located.
In addition to Bercleys Papo, hotel chains Fattal, Elad, Isrotel, Astral and Vert are expected to build or manage homes from the project.
While much attention has been paid to plans to recreate the magic of the Maldives, the use of islands, piers and coves takes a page from the playbook of another tourist hotspot: Dubai.
The Emirati city has largely used all three to enlarge its limited coastline in a different way, with many small islands and peninsulas creating a global map, palm trees and other formations, providing more beachfront homes for resorts and luxury accommodation. luxury.
“Our vision is to create an exclusive delight in the Dead Sea according to the exclusive importance of the lowest point on earth,” said Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Tourism, Kobby Barda.
Ein Bokek recently has 15 hotels, adding deals from major Israeli chains. In a year overall, hotels can expect around 800,000 visitors, at most from abroad. The Dead Sea has gained government aid during the pandemic, but it has also become a popular remaining choice in Israel.
It’s great that it’s the most expensive time to stay in Israel, averaging $211 the night before COVID (2019). Figures from the Central Bureau of Statistics suggest that, so far this year, Dead Sea resorts have averaged an occupancy rate of around 70 percent.
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