The National Planning and Construction Council approved a change in plan 13 (a national outline plan that deals with construction close to the seashores in Israel) regarding the height of the possible construction on the north shore in the city of Eilat, which includes the “hotel zone”, where many of the city’s most prestigious hotels are located. The change will make it possible to build new hotels with a height of up to 12-20 floors, or to add floors to existing hotels. This is a request initiated by the Ministry of Tourism in order to implement a policy to add lodging rooms in the city.

As part of the decision that was made, the plan will allow the construction of hotels and the addition of floors to existing hotels near the water line up to a height of 45 meters and 60 meters – when it comes to a height that reflects a range ranging from 12 to 20 floors, as mentioned. This, instead of the restriction that was In effect since 2005, of construction up to a height of 8 floors only. Most of the prestigious and well-known hotels in the area, with more than 8 floors, were built before Eilat’s plan came into force in 2005.

The plan for the beaches of Eilat was approved in July 2005, and it included a building height limit in the hotel area on the north shore due to the airport that was active. With the opening of the Ramon airport and the closing of the field in the heart of the city, the height restrictions are no longer relevant. In light of the desire to support the renewal and strengthening of the tourist fabric of the hotels on the North Shore, the subcommittee for principled planning decided to recommend to the National Council to cancel the existing building height limit.

The amendments that are required are an addition to the plan’s instructions that in the hotel area on the north shore there will be a reference to the integration of the building into the urban space, in issues such as walkability and the mixing of uses of commerce, recreation and leisure on the street level. Another amendment states that care must be taken that the plan ensures and preserves an open view and open roads and that an emphasis is placed on avoiding the creation of a construction wall in front of the beach and the mountains of Eilat.

Minister of Tourism, Haim Katz: “We are bringing good news to Eilat. Hundreds and even thousands of rooms will be added in the city. The move will encourage competition, remove excess bureaucracy for a hotel that wants to renew itself, and allow entrepreneurs who have not yet built to increase supply”.