Strike at the Eiffel Tower in Paris disrupts visits to one of the world’s most popular monuments
Paris, Feb 19: Visits to the Eiffel Tower were disrupted on Monday because of a strike over poor financial management of the monument, which is one of the world’s most-visited sites.
The hugely popular 300-metre (984-foot) landmark in central Paris has seen soaring visitor numbers in the lead up to the Summer Olympics in the French capital. Tourists planning to visit the Eiffel Tower on Monday were warned of disruptions in multiple languages on the monument’s website. They advised visitors to check the website before heading to the monument or to postpone their visit.
The Eiffel Tower – Paris’s most famous landmark –attracts nearly seven million visitors a year, around three-quarters of them foreigners, according to its website.
Visitor numbers to Paris are expected to swell this summer as the French capital hosts the Olympic Games.
During the Covid pandemic numbers dropped sharply due to closures and travel restrictions, but recovered to 5.9 million in 2022. 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 survival of the monument and the company operating it”.
The Eiffel Tower is typically open 365 days a year, but it is occasionally affected by strikes. In December, the monument was closed to visitors for an entire day during Christmas and New Year’s holidays because of a strike over contract negotiations.
Stephane Dieu of the CGT union, which represents a large number of the Eiffel Tower’s employees, said Monday’s strike is aimed at a salary increase in proportion to the incoming revenue from ticket sales and improved maintenance of the monument, which is owned by the Paris municipality.
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. (AP)