The closure of the Eiffel Tower, an iconic symbol of Paris and a prime global tourist attraction, unfolded on a significant day as the staff initiated a strike commemorating the 100th anniversary of the passing of Gustave Eiffel, the visionary engineer behind the tower’s creation. The hard-left CGT union orchestrated the strike, citing concerns about the “current way it is managed” by the tower’s operator, SETE.
In a statement, the CGT expressed discontent with SETE, claiming that it was “headed for disaster.” The union argued that the tower’s management adhered to a business model that was both “too ambitious and unsustainable.” According to the CGT, this model was based on an inflated estimate of future visitor numbers while simultaneously underestimating the construction costs associated with the upkeep of the historic monument.
Visitors who had planned to ascend the Eiffel Tower on this significant day were met with disappointment as SETE issued an apology, advising those with electronic tickets for the day of the strike to “check their email” for additional information regarding their bookings. The temporary closure raised questions about the operational strategy and financial stability of SETE.
The Eiffel Tower, Paris’s most famous landmark, ordinarily attracts nearly seven million visitors annually, with approximately three-quarters of them hailing from foreign countries, according to information provided on its website. The COVID-19 pandemic dealt a significant blow to visitor numbers due to closures and travel restrictions. Despite a sharp decline during the pandemic, the Eiffel Tower managed to recover to 5.9 million visitors in 2022.
The CGT contended that the tower’s management was basing its future budget on an optimistic projection of 7.4 million annual visitors, a figure the union argued had never been reached in reality. This discrepancy in projected and actual visitor numbers became a focal point of contention during the strike, shedding light on concerns regarding the sustainability and long-term viability of the Eiffel Tower’s management practices.
Eiffel Tower
Gustave Eiffel, the brilliant mind behind the iconic structure, passed away on December 27, 1923, at the age of 91. On the centenary of his death, the strike at the Eiffel Tower not only disrupted the plans of numerous visitors but also brought attention to the challenges faced by one of the world’s most famous landmarks in balancing its historical significance with modern demands.
