EIFFEL TOWER TO REOPEN AFTER RECORD NINE-MONTH CLOSURE

Fri 16 July 2021:

The Eiffel Tower is to reopen to visitors for the first time in nine months, following its longest closure since World War II.

The lifts are set to whir back into life, transporting tourists to its 300-metre (1,000-foot) summit, ending a long period of inactivity caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Daily capacity is set to be restricted to 13,000 people, however, about half of the normal level, in order to respect social distancing.

From Wednesday next week, visitors will need to show either proof of vaccination or a negative test, in line with recent government-imposed requirements.

“Obviously it’s an additional operational complication, but it’s manageable,” the head of the operating company, Jean-François Martins said.

After a final round of safety checks by staff, he announced that the “lady is ready”.

Early reservations for tickets during the summer holiday period underline how the tourism industry in Paris has changed due to travel restrictions.

Half of visitors are expected to be French, while Italians and Spanish make up a higher proportion than usual.

The long closure has caused havoc with the finances of the operating company, Sete, which runs the monument on behalf of Paris city authorities.

It is set to seek additional government aid and a fresh 60-million-euro cash injection to stay afloat, having seen its revenues fall by 75 percent to 25 million euros in 2020.

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