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The Guardian reported on December 27th that the French General Confederation of Labor (CGT) had launched a one-day strike to protest the way SETE (the operator of the Eiffel Tower) manages the structure.
Tourists who had booked tickets to visit the 134-year-old structure were informed that the tower was closed and they would be contacted by email. Photo: AP.
CGT assessed SETE as maintaining an "overly ambitious" and "unsustainable" business model. CGT pointed out that the Eiffel Tower operator based its calculations on "overly optimistic" estimates of future ticket revenue while construction costs were projected inappropriately.
Many tourists expressed disappointment when the 134-year-old French landmark closed down.
However, to commemorate the 100th day since the late engineer's death, the promenade at the base of the tower remained open, and musical and dance performances were broadcast from the tower's first floor, as well as on social media and national television, on the evening of December 27th.
The Eiffel Tower is one of the most visited attractions in the world. According to The Guardian, before the Covid-19 pandemic, the destination attracted nearly 7 million visitors annually, three-quarters of whom were foreign tourists. However, visitor numbers decreased significantly during the pandemic due to lockdowns and travel restrictions.
In 2022, visitor numbers recovered, with the tower welcoming 5.9 million visitors – a record number since the pandemic.
This iconic French landmark was completed in 1889 after two years of construction and is named after the engineer Gustave Eiffel.
The engineer passed away on December 27, 1923, at the age of 91. Besides the Eiffel Tower, he also collaborated with another engineer to complete the steel framework for the Statue of Liberty in New York.
