What to expect:
The Ministry of Tourism is expected to submit a broad plan in the coming weeks for government approval, in which they will reveal the way in which they intend to revive the Negev.
Specifications that reached Israel Today indicate that the plan that they intend to publish in the Ministry of Tourism is very ambitious and includes the construction of many hotels throughout the Negev.
Among the hotels, there will also be those of the large and well-known chains, along with smaller and simpler hotels that will allow all tourists who want to vacation in the area to enjoy accommodation at affordable prices.
The Ministry of Tourism is building on the establishment of luxury hotels at the highest level in the world, along with glamping complexes and 3-4 star hotels, and there is already a great demand from developers to invest in land to develop the tourist product in the area.
Will be spread over several areas
The program initiated by Tourism Minister Yoel Rezbozov, in which hundreds of millions of shekels are expected to be invested over the next 5-6 years, is expected to be spread across most areas in the Negev.
Each area will be characterized by a different tourist style, which will allow those who want to go on vacation in the Negev to enjoy several different options within a relatively short drive, all of which will have a desert character depending on the area.
Beersheba will be the next tourist destination ?,
"The Land of the Craters and the Spice Roads", "The Land of the Dead Sea", "Heritage and Cultures", "The Flowering Desert" and "The Eilat Mountains and the Red Sea" are the tourist areas according to which the Negev will be divided, each with a different character. Rich history and culture in the Beer Sheva area to spectacular natural phenomena in the Middle Arava and Mitzpe Ramon and the surrounding area.
In addition, the Ministry of Tourism intends to develop the culinary aspect of the area, with restaurants and culinary attractions that are supposed to characterize the area, along with the promotion of centers in the field of restaurants from all over the country.
Here, too, large sums are expected to be invested, with the understanding that culinary is a significant part of the holiday.
Flood of hotels
Very soon, quite a few new hotels are scheduled to open in Eilat, after decades in which no hotels were established in the city.
Some of them will be built in new areas that are a bit far from the current hotel area, which should disperse the tourists who will come to the city in different areas.
In addition, new hotels are currently being built.
Among the hotels expected to be built in Eilat: the prestigious W Hotel on the northern promenade, which will include 217 rooms;
Isrotel and Issta hotel with 110 rooms, which is in the process of obtaining a building permit;
The 223-room Brown Hotel, near the old airport, which is under construction;
Astral Chain's Low Cost Hotel, with 500 rooms, on the north coast;
An 80-room boutique hotel on the site of the abandoned building near the underwater observatory, and several hundred more rooms in various projects that include, among other things, mid-range hotels and even glampings that are supposed to allow accommodation at relatively reasonable prices, which is very difficult to find today in Eilat.
Minister Yoel Rezbozov, Photo: Oren Ben Hakon
One of the interesting topics we discussed recently was the establishment of an Israeli casino in the area, as part of the tourism development project in the Negev.
Sources involved in the program confirmed to "Israel Today" that the possibility of establishing casino centers as part of the program was examined and that it was correct on the part of senior officials, but it came off the table with the understanding that government officials, led by RAAM, would not allow the move.
Various elements in the Ministries of Tourism and Transportation and in the Tourism and Aviation Industry have tried, as part of the outline, to get foreign airlines to fly back to Ramon Airport, but currently without success.
The main reason, according to those involved, is that hotels in Eilat are expensive for tourists, and many of them ask if it is possible to move to Aqaba after landing at Ramon Airport.
Publish a calling voice
As part of the attempts to return the foreign tourists to Ramon Airport, the Ministry of Tourism proposed an outline similar to the one that preceded the Corona period and offered about $ 60 for each passenger arriving with the airline, thus making the arrival of airlines to Eilat affordable.
The program initiated by Tourism Minister Yoel Rezbozov, in which hundreds of millions of shekels are expected to be invested over the next 6-5 years, is to be spread over most areas in the Negev.
As mentioned, despite the proposal, many airlines with whom officials from the Ministry of Tourism spoke, refused at this stage for various reasons.
The main reason is the low response due to the high prices in Eilat, along with plans and agreements that have already been formulated with tourism agents in various countries that sell vacation packages to other destinations, after Israel's relatively late opening to foreign tourists.
In order to find a temporary solution to the high prices of hotels in Eilat and in general, the Ministry of Tourism is expected to publish a call in the coming days.
Many hotels are expected to join the initiative of the Ministry of Tourism and offer low-priced resorts to promote tourism in the area at affordable prices.
The possibility of establishing casino centers as part of the plan was examined, but it was dropped from the table with the understanding that government officials, led by RAAM, would not allow the move to be promoted.
Last year, the prices were a few hundred shekels per night per room, but this was a time when there were no tourists.
In the coming days we will know if the prices will be equally attractive this year as well.
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