Eiffel Tower closes as staff goes on strike over financial woes

The stoppage is the second strike at the Eiffel Tower within two months for the same reason

The Eiffel Tower, one of the top tourist destinations hosting millions of foreigners every year, closed its gates Monday after staff went on strike.

The unions said the strike, which was called to protest over how the monument is managed financially, could be extended.

The tower’s operator, SETE, said on its website that “visits of the monument will be disrupted on Monday”.

It advised ticket holders to check its website before showing up or to postpone their visit. E-ticket holders were asked to check their e-mails for further information.

The stoppage is the second strike at the Eiffel Tower within two months for the same reason.

Unions have criticized operator SETE for its business model based on an inflated estimate of future visitor numbers while underestimating construction costs.

According to its website, the Eiffel Tower – Paris’s most famous landmark attracts nearly seven million visitors annually, around three-quarters of foreigners.

During the COVID-19 pandemic numbers dropped sharply due to closures and travel restrictions, but recovered to 5.9 million in 2022.

Visitor numbers to Paris are expected to swell this summer as the French capital hosts the Olympic Games.

In a joint statement, the CGT and FO unions called on the city of Paris “to be reasonable with their financial demands to ensure the monument’s survival and the company operating it.”

Source: AFP

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