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The incredible project to develop the Dead Sea, Yam Hamela’h
Israelis love shopping malls. Now they can boast about building the lowest shopping mall on the planet, at the Dead Sea. In the area of Ein Bokek, where the hotels of the Dead Sea are located, a project that has been in the works for several years is under construction. This time, it can be said, the investment from the Ministry of Tourism and the region is up to the task: 1 billion Shekels.
In the area of “Ein Bokek,” where most of the Dead Sea hotels are located: The government has found a solution after many years of repeatedly postponing this project. But this time, this gigantic project to build a new shopping mall and develop nearly 20 km of beach has started. It is also planned to add 3,500 additional hotel rooms and the construction of a brand new country club.
Tourists will find major international brands. They have already reserved space in the 15,000 square meters of retail space. But also restaurants, a spa, a wellness center, a country club, and various local shops.
A revival for the Dead Sea region
This is clearly a revival for this region where few projects have come to fruition. For the president of the Tamar regional council, it’s a revolution: “Until now, tourists had two choices when they came to the Dead Sea: Stay in their air-conditioned hotel or take a bath. Otherwise, they had to travel miles to visit Masada, the Ein Gedi springs, or the Qumran site, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. It’s not like Eilat, which has many attractions. Here, they were like luxury prisoners; now that will change,” said Dov Litvinoff.
Aside from the construction of this new shopping mall, the region presents a new attraction for investors. Indeed, projections for the number of tourists in the region are expected to double within 5 years. This sets a target of nearly 4 million people visiting the Dead Sea each year.
Behind this figure, many issues and good news are hidden: The arrival of new investors and tourists is good news for the region. We hope for the creation of 20,000 jobs within 5 years. But it will be necessary to plan and anticipate access to the Dead Sea, particularly through the construction of a second roadway leading to Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
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