France’s iconic Eiffel Tower remained shuttered for a fourth consecutive day on Thursday (February 22) as employees prolonged their strike in protest of the monument’s management, as reported by unions.
This halt marks the second within a two-month span, underscoring unions’ discontent over what they deem insufficient investment.
SETE, the tower’s operator, has urged ticket holders to verify its website prior to their planned visit or consider postponing. E-ticket holders were advised to monitor their emails for updates.
Assurances were made by the operator regarding reimbursement for affected ticket holders.
Criticism from unions has targeted SETE’s business model, accusing it of relying on inflated projections of future visitor numbers while downplaying repair and maintenance expenses.
Union representatives were slated to convene with SETE management later in the afternoon, according to sources cited by AFP.
Additionally, unions have called on the city of Paris to exercise prudence in its financial demands to ensure the monument’s survival and the viability of the operating company.
The Eiffel Tower incurred a deficit of approximately 120 million euros ($130 million) during the Covid pandemic in both 2020 and 2021.
Despite a recapitalisation injection of 60 million euros into its operator, unions argue that this amount falls short, especially considering the necessity for significant maintenance efforts, including a fresh coat of paint.
Visitor numbers at the Eiffel Tower experienced a steep decline during the Covid era due to closures and travel restrictions, although they rebounded to 5.9 million in 2022 and reached 6.3 million last year.