The Eiffel Tower, one of the world’s most visited tourist attractions, closed on Monday as staff went on strike to protest the way the Paris landmark is managed financially, disappointing tourists.
The strike comes as Paris prepares to host the 2024 Olympic Games, which begin July 26 and will feature the tower’s metal on winners’ medals.
Visitors stood outside the tower’s earthly barriers, facing a giant screen announcing the strike.
“It’s really a shame because we only came for three days and we won’t be able to go up,” said Nelson Navarro of Norfolk, England.
Vito Santos, a Canadian, had planned to visit the monument 15 years after his honeymoon and show it to his children.
“It’s disappointing… The plan was to come here very early to get the ticket as soon as possible. But it was a surprise for us, the strike is going on, so we can’t go on tour,” he said.
The unions claim that the Paris City Council, which owns 99% of the company that manages the tower, the Société d’Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel (Seven), underestimates the maintenance and repair costs of the monument expected before the Olympic Games. .
This, in turn, can lead to negligent maintenance work and put visitors at risk, they say.
It is the second time this year that employees have gone on strike for the same reason.
The 324 meter high tower, built by Gustave Eiffel in the late 19th century, receives around six million visitors a year.
Source: Terra
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