In a statement, the left-wing CGT union said the strike marked the 100th anniversary of the death of engineer Gustave Eiffel, who built the tower, and was a protest against “the current management”.
The Eiffel Tower in Paris on December 23, 2023. Photo: AFP
The CGT said the management was operating the Eiffel Tower on an "overly ambitious and unsustainable" business model, and the union said the tower's operator, SETE, had overestimated future visitor numbers while underestimating construction costs.
SETE apologised to travellers for the incident and advised anyone with an e-ticket on Wednesday to “check their email” for further information about their booking.
The Eiffel Tower - Paris' most famous landmark - attracts nearly 7 million visitors a year, about three-quarters of whom are foreigners, according to the tower's website.
During the Covid pandemic, visitor numbers dropped sharply due to the tower being closed and people being restricted from travelling, but numbers recovered to 5.9 million in 2022.
CGT said the tower's management was basing its future budget on 7.4 million annual visitors, although "this level has never been reached".
Engineer Gustave Eiffel, who built the tower, died on December 27, 1923.
Mai Van (according to CNA)
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