• The Louvre increases ticket prices for non-European visitors by 45%, now costing €32 ($37).
• This change aims to fund renovations amidst pressures from financial strains and previous heists.
• Trade unions argue the policy undermines access to cultural heritage and may provoke strikes.
• Similar pricing increases are applied to other state-owned tourist sites like the Palace of Versailles.
• Trade union protests emphasize concerns over discrimination and accessibility in cultural institutions.

The Louvre Museum in Paris has raised ticket prices for non-European visitors by nearly 45%, effective from January 14, a move sparking widespread criticism. Visitors from countries outside the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway will now pay €32 ($37) to enter the museum. This change aims to generate additional revenue to fund pressing renovations needed for the museum's deteriorating infrastructure following several years of financial strain and security incidents, including a recent high-profile jewelry theft, according to Le Monde, Africanews, and Los Angeles Times.

Despite the increase being promoted as necessary to finance the much-needed renovations, trade unions at the museum have condemned the dual pricing policy as "shocking philosophically, socially, and on a human level." They argue that the Louvre, which houses a vast collection of around 500,000 items, many with universal significance, should not discriminate against visitors based on nationality. Workers have voiced their concerns about having to check identity papers for entry, which they believe complicates the visitor experience, according to Le Monde and Africanews.

This change aligns with a broader national "differentiated pricing" policy that is also affecting other prominent cultural sites, such as the Palace of Versailles and the national opera house in Paris. While some European destinations already offer free access to local residents, the Louvre's approach represents a shift towards a two-tiered pricing model that has drawn comparisons to practices typically seen in developing countries, raising concerns among cultural advocates that it could limit access to heritage sites for many tourists, especially those from economically disadvantaged nations, as reported by Africanews and Los Angeles Times.

Tourists have expressed mixed reactions to the price increase, highlighting a common sentiment that ticket prices should be more affordable for international visitors who bear additional travel costs. While some assert they will still visit regardless of the increased fee, others maintain that cultural sites should remain universally accessible. The museum's workers continue to advocate for better working conditions in light of increasing visitor numbers, which they claim exacerbate already difficult staffing situations, according to Le Monde, Africanews, and Los Angeles Times.