Overtourism and Poor Working Conditions Spark Outrage

“The anger of exhausted and desperate employees has finally erupted.” On June 16 (local time), staff at the Louvre Museum in Paris, France, suddenly declared a strike during a routine monthly meeting, citing worsening working conditions. “Not only the artwork, but the staff themselves must be protected,” said exhibition guide Sarah Sefian in an interview with the Associated Press. As the summer tourism season ramps up, backlash against the effects of overtourism is rising across Europe. According to the AP, the Louvre shut its doors for four hours that day, with ticketing clerks, security personnel, and gallery staff walking off the job. Thousands of tourists were left waiting in long lines outside the museum due to the abrupt and unusual strike. Operations are expected to resume on June 18.

Explaining their decision to strike without a union vote during the monthly meeting—technically an illegal strike—union representatives stated, “We were simply too exhausted. We couldn’t bear to watch the situation deteriorate any further.” The Louvre, widely regarded as the world’s busiest museum, welcomed 8.7 million visitors last year—more than double the number it was originally designed to accommodate. On some days, the museum has received up to 30,000 visitors, yet staff claim that investment in facilities and manpower has fallen far short of what is needed. Over the past decade, the French government has cut subsidies to the museum by more than 20%, and the institution has eliminated over 200 positions in the last 15 years.

Aging infrastructure is also a major concern: some buildings suffer from water leaks, while restroom and staff break facilities remain woefully inadequate. Hopes were high for renovations ahead of the Paris Olympics, but those plans ultimately fell through. In January, French President Emmanuel Macron announced a pledge to invest up to €800 million (about $860 million USD) over the next ten years into the Louvre’s renovation. However, employees argue that the budget is heavily skewed toward revamping the gallery for the Mona Lisa, while “chronic understaffing” remains unresolved—prompting them to take action. The Louvre walkout came just one day after major anti-overtourism protests swept across popular tourist cities like Lisbon, Barcelona, and Venice. Demonstrators decried the rising cost of living and environmental degradation caused by mass tourism, spraying water guns in public squares, cafés, and tourist hot spots to express their frustration.

(Dong-A Ilbo, June 17, 2025)