Paris' iconic Eiffel Tower shuttered its doors to visitors on Wednesday due to a strike staged by the staff, announced the tower's operator, SETE.
The strike, coinciding with the 100th death anniversary of Gustave Eiffel, the engineer behind the tower's construction, was organised by the hard-left CGT union. Their protest aimed to denounce the current management practices employed at the tower.
The CGT union's statement pointed out concerns regarding the management by SETE, labelling it as a route towards potential disaster. Apologising to visitors affected by the closure, SETE advised individuals holding electronic tickets for Wednesday to monitor their emails for updates and guidance.
The Eiffel Tower, a quintessential symbol of Paris and a leading global tourist attraction, draws nearly seven million visitors annually, with three-quarters of them being foreigners.
The closure came as a significant disruption during the centennial commemoration of Gustave Eiffel's passing on December 27, 1923, at the age of 91.