PARIS: The Paris city hall Friday voted to increase the adult admission price for the Eiffel Tower by 20 percent starting next month, aiming to support essential renovation efforts.
Currently priced at 29.40 euros ($31.90) for a lift ride to the tower’s top, the fee for visitors will climb to 35.30 euros as of June 17.
Additionally, the Paris city council endorsed a recapitalization plan for SETE, the operator of the Eiffel Tower, while also reducing the annual fee charged to the operator for managing this iconic landmark. SETE has faced financial challenges due to reduced visitor numbers during the Covid pandemic and escalating renovation expenses, resulting in substantial deficits.
Earlier this year, Eiffel Tower staff staged strikes, citing insufficient investment. The tower incurred a deficit of approximately 120 million euros throughout the Covid pandemic years of 2020 and 2021. Unions argued that the previous recapitalization of 60 million euros was inadequate given the necessity of major maintenance work, including a new paint job.
The renowned architectural marvel by Gustave Eiffel has undergone repainting 19 times since its construction for the 1889 World Fair. Eiffel himself recommended repainting every seven years to prevent rust, yet the 300-meter iron structure, or 330 meters tall when accounting for the high-frequency antenna at the top, has not received a full paint job since 2010.
Despite challenges, visitor numbers rebounded to nearly six million last year, following a drop to 1.5 million in 2020 due to Covid-related restrictions.
