Louvre museum in Paris closes amid staff protest over crowds of tourists
June 17 (UPI) -- The Louvre, home to the Mona Lisa and other iconic works of art in Paris, closed abruptly Monday as the museum's staff staged an impromptu strike over a surge of tourists who were left standing in long lines.
Ticket agents, gallery attendants and security refused to return to work, following a morning union meeting, citing overcrowding and understaffing. After four hours of talks with management, the Louvre reopened to confused and tired visitors.
Monday's strike comes after French President Emmanuel Macron announced earlier this year that the centuries-old Louvre would undergo renovations to include a separate wing for the Mona Lisa to control crowds better.
The "New Renaissance" project, which will repair and modernize the former royal palace, will take a decade to complete. Ticket prices are slated to go up next year for tourists who do not live in the European Union to help pay for the project.
Last year alone, 8.7 million tourists visited the Louvre with many complaining about insufficient signage, tight spaces and lack of restrooms. The Louvre was originally designed to accommodate 4 million visitors a year.
Louvre President Laurence des Cars, who was appointed in 2021, limited visitors to 30,000 a day after attendance surged in 2018 to more than 10 million. He has warned that parts of the museum are "no longer watertight" and that fluctuating temperatures could damage the priceless artwork.
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If his passport is renewed mid-authorization period, the existing ETIAS approval will no longer be valid, and he will need to reapply. Understanding these interdependencies will be critical for maintaining uninterrupted travel schedules. The interaction between ETIAS and EES is central to the future travel experience. Under EES, a traveler's first entry to the Schengen area after October 12, 2025, will involve a one-time biometric registration. This record, valid for up to three years, will be used to validate subsequent entries. Once ETIAS is operational, travelers will need both a valid pre-travel authorization and a current biometric record. Arriving without either will result in denied boarding or refusal at the border. Jurisdictionally, ETIAS will apply to all Schengen member states as well as microstates with open borders to the Schengen area, including Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City. It will not apply to non-Schengen EU members such as Ireland; however, travelers connecting onward to Schengen destinations from those countries will still require ETIAS approval before travel. This makes it essential for passengers on multi-country itineraries to verify their routes and requirements in advance. From an operational standpoint, the EU has committed to building a multilingual, mobile-friendly application platform. Applications will be cross-checked against multiple databases, including the Schengen Information System, Interpol's databases, and Europol's data holdings. While the majority of travelers will be approved quickly, those flagged for additional checks will require manual review by member state authorities. These checks could involve confirming travel history, clarifying biographical details, or resolving mismatches in personal data. Travel industry stakeholders are already preparing for the change. Airlines and large tour operators are integrating ETIAS checks into their booking and check-in systems—some plan to implement automated reminders for customers whose ETIAS authorizations are due to expire before scheduled travel. Travel agencies are developing educational materials to explain the new requirements, and some are offering ETIAS application assistance as part of their service packages. The delayed rollout also creates a risk of traveler complacency. Many will assume that because ETIAS is not yet required, they can ignore it until the last minute. This mindset could lead to a surge of applications in the first months after launch, overwhelming the system and creating processing delays. Travelers who understand the system now and are prepared to apply early will avoid these risks. For frequent travelers and business professionals, the key will be integrating ETIAS into standard travel routines. This could involve setting reminders for authorization renewal, conducting passport checks, or maintaining an updated file with all necessary personal details for the application. For families, grouping passport renewals and ETIAS applications will simplify planning and ensure synchronized validity periods. Even though the launch is more than a year away, the financial aspect of ETIAS should also be considered. While the projected €20 fee is modest, it applies to each traveler and will need to be budgeted for in family or group travel costs. Over a multi-year period, especially for those who travel frequently, these fees will accumulate. Budgeting now ensures they do not become an afterthought or cause last-minute travel budget issues. The security rationale for ETIAS remains strong. Pre-travel screening allows authorities to identify potential security or immigration risks before they reach European borders. This reduces the incidence of inadmissible passengers arriving at ports of entry and enhances the safety and integrity of the Schengen zone. For legitimate travelers, the system offers the benefit of smoother border crossings once all authorizations and registrations are in order. In the months ahead, the EU is expected to release further details on the application process, including technical specifications, payment methods, and customer support channels. Travelers should rely only on official government sources to avoid falling victim to fraudulent websites posing as ETIAS application portals. Experience with ESTA and eTA launches shows that such scams proliferate in the lead-up to system activation, charging inflated fees or collecting personal data for malicious purposes. Ultimately, the delay to late 2026 changes the timeline but not the outcome. ETIAS will become a standard part of Schengen travel for visa-exempt visitors, and those who prepare now will navigate the transition with minimal disruption. Treating the delay as a grace period for education and readiness will ensure that when the system goes live, the process is a formality rather than an obstacle. Contact Information Phone: +1 (604) 200-5402 Email: info@ Website: TIME BUSINESS NEWS
