Louvre Staff Strike Halts Operations Amid Europe-Wide Anti-Tourism Protests

The Louvre Museum in Paris, the world's most visited museum, was temporarily shut down by striking staff protesting chronic understaffing, unmanageable crowds, and deteriorating working conditions. The strike, which occurred abruptly during a routine meeting, left thousands of visitors stranded and highlighted the growing strain of mass tourism on the institution. Staff union representatives emphasized that the protest was driven by the burden on employees who manage 300,000 visitors daily and the need for urgent action to protect both workers and the museum's priceless artworks. Louvre President Laurence des Cars has previously warned about the museum's infrastructure issues and implemented a daily visitor cap to mitigate overcrowding. The strike follows a wave of anti-tourism protests across Southern Europe, where locals and workers have voiced concerns over overtourism impacting quality of life and cultural heritage. French President Emmanuel Macron has proposed a ten-year renovation plan called the "New Renaissance of the Louvre" aimed at improving visitor experience and easing pressures on the museum, but staff stress that immediate relief is necessary.