TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Non-EU visitors to the Louvre Museum in Paris, France, will have to pay higher admission fees next year. The world's most visited museum announced a 45 percent price hike to tickets specifically for visitors from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) starting January 14, 2025.
The price hike is expected to generate additional revenue of up to 15 million euros or around Rp290 billion to 20 million euros or around Rp386 billion annually to fund the extensive renovation of the museum.
Louvre Visitors
According to Le Monde report from 2024 published by the Louvre, the museum welcomed 8.7 million visitors that year, with 69 percent of them being foreigners. American visitors were the highest, followed by Chinese visitors in third place.
Visitors from outside the EEA, which includes the European Union (EU) along with Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway, are now required to pay 32 euros (Rp617,961), up 10 euros from the previous fee of Rp424,848. Meanwhile, tourists from EEA countries will continue to pay Rp424,848, creating a significant difference based on geographical origin.
This price hike is part of the ambitious "Louvre - New Renaissance" plan announced by French President Emmanuel Macron and museum director Laurence des Cars last January. The plan also aims to enhance security and renovate hundreds of rooms in the building, whose roof leaks and heating and cooling systems are defective.
According to the Cour des Comptes report, the highest French audit institution, the cost of extensive renovation of the Grand Palais is estimated to reach around Rp18.37 trillion.
However, this policy has drawn criticism from labor unions for the decision to abolish universal entrance fees for all countries, including CFDT, which warns that it will be seen as "discriminatory."
The Louvre Museum, which welcomes millions of visitors every year, continues to strive to balance accessibility with sustainability. With this price hike, tourists hope the museum can maintain its position as a global cultural center.