France’s Eiffel Tower, which was closed for five days due to a strike, will reopen on Sunday after the monument’s management announced a deal had been reached with unions.
Monday’s shutdown at one of the world’s most famous tourist destinations was the second in two months to protest what unions say is insufficient investment.
Tower operator SETE said it had reached an agreement with unions on Saturday “under which the parties will regularly monitor the company’s business model, investments in works and revenues through a body that will meet every six months”, reports AFP.
Aiming to balance their books by 2025, both parties also agreed to invest around 380 million euros by 2031 in works and maintenance of the tower, the statement said.
SETE apologized to visitors unable to visit the popular monument due to the strike, which resulted in the loss of around 100,000 admissions.
The Eiffel Tower recorded a shortfall of around 120 million euros during the Covid pandemic in 2020 and 2021.
SETE has since received a €60m recapitalisation, which unions say is insufficient given major maintenance work is needed, including a new paint job.
Visitor numbers fell sharply during Covid due to closures and travel restrictions, but have recovered to 5.9 million in 2022 and 6.3 million last year.
Architect Gustave Eiffel’s masterpiece has been repainted 19 times since it was built for the 1889 World’s Fair.
