According to media reports in Israel, the country’s government is planning to expand and upgrade the neglected Dead Sea resort area into “one of the world’s top tourism destinations.”

National newspaper Haaretz reports that the District Planning Committee for the south has agreed to invest 1bn shekels (US$276m, €236m, £208m) in the scheme, which will upgrade the main hotel zones of Ein Bokek and Hamei Zohar, and link them as a single attraction.

The publication added that ageing facilities and a lack of shopping and entertainment offerings have led to a decline in the number of Israeli visitors to the famous site, although it still attracts one million tourists each year due to the health-enhancing properties of its extremely saline water.

Moshe Safdie Architects are working on plans for the resort area and will add new restaurants, a central spa, visitor and cultural centres, a bicycle path and as many as 15 hotels. The buildings will be low-rise, “to fit the contours of the region’s geography.” An upgraded beachside promenade will link all the new amenities.