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Time of India

World's most visited museum shuts down as staff strike protests on mass tourism

The Louvre Museum , the most visited museum in the world, remained shut on Monday after its staff called an emergency strike. Employees cited overcrowding, poor working conditions, and long-term infrastructure neglect as key reasons for the disruption. Thousands of tourists waited outside the iconic glass pyramid entrance, unaware of the sudden shutdown. The strike took place during an internal meeting and involved security, ticketing, and gallery staff refusing to take up duties. 'It's the Mona Lisa moan out here,' said Kevin Ward, a tourist from Milwaukee, as he stood in line. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track default , selected Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now Undo Louvre staff have warned of unmanageable crowds, understaffing, and conditions that have worsened over the years. The museum, which saw 8.7 million visitors in 2024, operates with infrastructure meant to support less than half that number. Employees called the situation 'untenable.' (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) Just a day before the Louvre strike, cities across southern Europe witnessed anti-tourism protests. Demonstrators in Barcelona, Mallorca, and Lisbon expressed frustration over mass tourism's impact on daily life. Live Events You Might Also Like: Protesters in Europe march against over-tourism, target tourists with water guns At the heart of the Louvre's crowd issues is the Mona Lisa. The painting attracts nearly 20,000 visitors a day. Many crowd into the Salle des États for a brief photo, often missing other artworks. 'You don't see a painting. You see phones. You see elbows. You feel heat,' said Ji-Hyun Park, a tourist from Seoul. French President Emmanuel Macron had earlier announced a €700-800 million renovation plan, promising a new Mona Lisa room and a separate entrance by 2031. 'Conditions of display, explanation and presentation will be up to what the Mona Lisa deserves,' Macron had said. However, staff remain skeptical. 'We can't wait six years for help,' said Sarah Sefian, a gallery attendant. 'It's not just about the art — it's about the people protecting it.' You Might Also Like: Non EU-visitors to pay higher entrance fee at Paris Louvre, world's most-visited museum Union members have pointed out that while Macron's plan promises upgrades, the museum's annual state funding has fallen over the past decade, even as visitor numbers have climbed. 'We take it very badly that Monsieur Le President makes his speeches here in our museum, but when you scratch the surface, the financial investment of the state is getting worse,' Sefian said. The Louvre may open a limited 'masterpiece route' temporarily, including access to the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo. A full reopening is expected by Wednesday. The museum remains closed on Tuesdays as per schedule. A memo from Louvre President Laurence des Cars highlighted infrastructure issues including leaks, temperature swings, and insufficient facilities. She called the visitor experience 'a physical ordeal.' The funding for the long-term renovation is expected to come from ticket sales, donations, government contributions, and licensing revenue from the Louvre Abu Dhabi. Ticket prices for non-EU visitors are set to rise later this year. Until then, one of the world's greatest cultural institutions remains caught between record tourist demand and limited resources.