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CNN reports that an adult ticket, including a ride on the elevator to the top of the Paris landmark, will cost $38.31 starting June 17th, up from $31.91. A similar ticket for children aged 12 to 14 will cost $19.21, and for children aged 4 to 11 to reach the top of the tower, the price will be $9.66.
On May 24, the Parisian city authorities voted to increase the price of admission tickets to the Eiffel Tower for adults by 20% starting in June to fund urgent renovations of the famous landmark.
French tourist icon charges entrance fee due to tourist surge.
The decline in tourist numbers during the COVID-19 pandemic, combined with soaring renovation costs, has left SETE (Eiffel Tower) in a significant deficit. Earlier this year, Eiffel Tower employees went on strike to protest the lack of investment in the structure. The Eiffel Tower faced a deficit of approximately €120 million during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021. Architect Gustave Eiffel's masterpiece has been repainted 19 times since its construction in 1889. The Eiffel Tower is recommended to be repainted every seven years to prevent rust.
In 2020, fewer than 1.6 million people visited the Eiffel Tower, compared to nearly 6.2 million the previous year, according to the company that operates the monument, Société d'Exploitation de la Tour, which saw even fewer than 2.1 million visitors the following year. In both years, operating costs were three times the total revenue of the structure.
Renovation work is also contributing to increased costs, including preventative measures related to repainting the tower. The painting work is expected to last until 2027, while elevator construction is also planned, which will lead to occasional closures.
