The Louvre Museum board has voted to raise ticket prices by 45% for visitors outside the European Economic Area, effective January 14. The price will increase from €22 ($25) to €32 ($37), affecting tourists from the United States, Britain, and Russia. The move is part of a broader effort to fund infrastructure upgrades and security improvements following a high-profile heist in October in which thieves stole nine pieces of jewelry worth an estimated $102 million from the Apollo Gallery. The museum's director, Laurence des Cars, acknowledged that the institution has "very inadequate" and "outdated" security systems, and a full overhaul is not expected until 2032.
This price hike matters because it marks a significant shift in how one of the world's most visited museums finances its operations, targeting foreign tourists who make up 77% of its 8.7 million annual visitors. The policy has drawn criticism from France's CFDT-Culture labor union, which called it "absurd and unjust" and warned it could be seen as discriminatory, particularly against visitors from the Middle East. The Louvre's decision may also set a precedent, as other French institutions like the Palace of Versailles and the Château de Chambord are reportedly expected to follow suit. The controversy highlights broader tensions between funding needs, accessibility, and equity in major cultural institutions.