The Eiffel Tower in Paris is currently closed to the public due to a strike by some of its staff members. The strike, which coincided with the 100th anniversary of the death of the tower’s engineer, Gustave Eiffel, was organized by employees to protest against the management of the Société d’Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel (SETE), as reported by the CGT labor union.
The union has raised concerns about the financial model of the tower, citing underestimated construction budgets and overestimated annual visitor numbers. In 2022, the tower received nearly 5.9 million visitors, which is less than the estimated 7.4 million. Additionally, the union highlighted the increasing cost of maintenance and restoration work, which has surged to 352 million euros, a 128 million euro increase since 2019.
The closure of the Eiffel Tower has disrupted the plans of tourists and locals alike, negatively impacting the city’s tourism industry which has been recovering from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, city officials are focusing on promoting other popular tourist attractions within Paris, such as the Louvre Museum, Notre-Dame Cathedral, and the Palace of Versailles to minimize the impact of the Eiffel Tower’s closure on tourism revenue for the city.
Efforts are being made to address the impact of the strike, but it is currently unclear when the Eiffel Tower will reopen. In the meantime, tourists are encouraged to explore other historical and cultural attractions in Paris.
