Louvre Museum entrance fee increased by 30%… Criticism raised over ‘museum gentrification’
Tourist attraction and public transportation fares continue to increase… ‘Are we collecting Olympic expenses from tourists?’
French daily Le Monde reported on the 12th (local time) that the Louvre Museum will increase the entrance fee to 30,000 won starting from the 15th, and the burden on foreign tourists is expected to increase.
Currently, the entrance fee to the Louvre Museum is 15 euros for online sales and 17 euros for on-site sales, which is about 21,000 to 24,000 won. However, when the museum announced plans to increase the admission fee by more than 30% to 22 euros (about 32,000 won) starting on the 15th, some responded that it was too expensive. In particular, concerns were raised about the growing burden on tourists due to the Louvre Museum’s nature, where more than 90% of visitors are foreign tourists.
However, the museum stated that an increase in admission fees was inevitable. In particular, it is inevitable due to rising prices, decreasing government subsidies and private donations, and aging facilities.
Sorbonne University professor Jean-Marchel Tobleme expressed regret over this decision. He criticized the ‘gentrification of museums’, saying that according to French museum legislation, “entrance fees should be set to promote access to the public as much as possible.”
On the other hand, the free admission benefit for French people will be maintained, so the burden on Koreans is expected to be reduced. In fact, it was reported that one out of two Koreans who visited the Louvre Museum last year was a free visitor.
In addition, entrance fees to famous tourist attractions such as the Palace of Versailles and the Arc de Triomphe have been increased one after another ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics. The city of Paris announced plans to double public transportation fares during the Olympics, increasing the burden on tourists.
Some are raising criticism that France may be passing on various costs for the Olympics to foreign tourists.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.