Tourists Overwhelmed by Phone Usage Cause Louvre's Shutdown
The ongoing labor strike at the Louvre museum in Paris, which began in June 2025, has brought to light significant issues surrounding tourism, affordability, and visitor experience in the city and beyond.
The strike, initiated by front-of-house staff including gallery attendants, reception, and security workers, has resulted in the museum failing to open on time on at least June 16, 2025. This has caused thousands of visitors to be stuck in long, unmoving queues, with some giving up and leaving, reflecting a major disruption for tourists planning to visit the iconic museum.
Staff are protesting overcrowding, chronic understaffing, and worsening working conditions, which directly degrade the visitor experience. The museum also faces physical issues such as lack of rest areas, insufficient bathrooms, extreme heat fluctuations inside the pyramid structure, and parts of the building not being water-tight, all of which threaten both the welfare of visitors and the preservation of the art.
The strike was described as a "spontaneous movement," indicating deep frustration among employees unable to cope with current conditions. This has led to the museum closing or opening late on strike days, with some exhibition rooms potentially remaining closed.
Since the Louvre is a major tourist destination, interruptions here likely ripple through the wider Paris tourism economy, affecting businesses reliant on steady visitor flows.
The strike occurs amid broader economic and affordability challenges in Paris and Europe, where tourism costs have been rising. Overcrowding at popular sites like the Louvre partly reflects tourism demand growth, which can drive up prices for accommodation, transport, and services, exacerbating an affordability crisis for visitors and residents alike.
The Louvre sees approximately 9 million visitors annually and about 20,000 people daily to see the Mona Lisa. However, visitors often complain about seeing more phones, elbows, and heat instead of the painting at the Mona Lisa exhibit. Despite plans to redesign the Mona Lisa's exhibit, the painting remains in its current location due to the lack of a standalone room.
The staff strike at the Louvre was part of a larger movement of protests against tourism that spread across Europe. Mass demonstrations also occurred in Mallorca, Venice, Italy, and Lisbon, Portugal, over tourism issues. In Spain, demonstrators armed with water guns drenched travelers at popular tourist destinations.
The staff's inability to manage the crowds at the Mona Lisa exhibit was a significant factor leading to the strike at the Louvre. The Louvre is the world's most-visited museum, and the Mona Lisa's popularity has caused concerns about its display for a long time, with suggestions to remove or relocate the painting.
The museum's return to full staff and functionality is uncertain, but it will resume tourism activities, potentially exacerbating staff issues. The staff at the Louvre, including gallery attendants, ticket takers, and security, refused to operate their posts during the strike, complaining about unmanageable crowds and understaffing.
The Louvre strike has disrupted tourism by causing delayed openings and cancellations, worsening the visitor experience due to overcrowding and understaffing, and underscoring broader challenges related to the affordability crisis affecting Paris and European tourism. The protest draws attention to the urgent need for investment in labor conditions and infrastructure to sustain such a high-profile cultural institution and maintain the attractiveness of Paris as a tourist destination.
[1] The Guardian. (2025, June 17). Louvre strike leaves thousands of tourists stranded in long queues. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2025/jun/17/louvre-strike-leaves-thousands-of-tourists-stranded-in-long-queues
[2] BBC News. (2025, June 18). Louvre strike: What's behind the staff action? Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-59361758
[3] The Art Newspaper. (2025, June 20). Louvre staff strike highlights challenges in managing mass tourism. Retrieved from https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/louvre-staff-strike-highlights-challenges-in-managing-mass-tourism
- As the Louvre strike continues, questions about the future of tech solutions in managing tourism crowds at cultural institutions rise, with sites like Gizmodo discussing potential innovations in lifestyle and travel.
- In the wake of the Louvre strike, technology and its role in improving tourism industry dynamics, from crowd management to better infrastructure, become a significant point of discussion among industry experts and enthusiasts.
- Moving forward, addressing the impact of technology on both visitor experience and employment conditions will be crucial, as discussions around technology, lifestyle, travel, and the future unfold in various sectors, including in publications like Gizmodo.
