More than 6.3 million people visited the Eiffel Tower last year. (document)
Paris:
France’s iconic Eiffel Tower was closed for a fourth day on Thursday as workers went on strike against its managers, unions said. The shutdown at one of the world’s most famous tourist attractions is the second in two months in protest at what unions say is insufficient investment.
SETE, the tower’s operator, advises ticket holders to check its website before showing up, or to postpone their visit. E-ticket holders are asked to check their email for more information.
Ticket holders will be refunded, the operator said.
Unions criticized SETE’s business model for being based on exaggerated estimates of future visitor numbers while underestimating repair and maintenance costs.
Union representatives will meet with SETE management in the afternoon, they told AFP.
The union also called on the city of Paris to “approach its financial needs appropriately to ensure the survival of the monument and the company that operates it”.
Their main grievance is that the city hall charges the Eiffel Tower operator what they consider to be an exorbitant lease fee, thereby defunding necessary maintenance work.
The Eiffel Tower suffered a shortfall of approximately 120 million euros ($130 million) during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021.
Its operator has since been offered a €60 million recapitalization, but unions said that was not enough given the need for major maintenance work including a new paint job.
Visitor numbers at the Eiffel Tower dropped sharply during the coronavirus pandemic due to closures and travel restrictions, but recovered to 5.9 million in 2022 and 6.3 million last year.
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