(Fighting against New Coronary Pneumonia) The first day of the Louvre restoration and opening: the visit is actively booked, the official estimate is that only 7,000 visitors can enter
China News Agency, Paris, July 6 (Reporter Li Yang) After being forced to close for 16 weeks under the influence of the New Coronary Pneumonia epidemic, the world-famous French Louvre was reopened on the 6th local time.
A reporter from China News Agency visited the Louvre Museum that day and saw a long queue lined up outside the glass pyramid of the Louvre Square. Visitors were orderly admitted under the guidance of the staff. Due to the impact of the epidemic, visitors must book tickets online in advance and determine the time of visit. The Louvre divides the daily visit time into 16 time periods and controls the number of visitors in each time period.
On July 6, local time, according to Agence France-Presse, the Louvre in Paris reopened after nearly four months of closure, but affected by the new crown epidemic, some areas are still closed to tourists. The picture shows a long queue of tourists waiting in front of the Louvre Museum.
Several people who did not book tickets in advance tried to enter, and were dissuaded by the staff. Outside the glass pyramid, a blue notice board of "Today's reservation is full" was soon displayed, announcing that the ticket reservations for all time periods on the 6th day were full, and visitors please go to the official website to check the time period for booking tickets and reiterate Only visitors who booked tickets in advance can guarantee admission. The reporter checked the official website and found that the Louvre was fully booked for most of the time on the 8th (the Louvre is normally closed on the 7th).
The Louvre takes strict anti-epidemic measures. All staff and visitors are wearing masks. Visitors can only follow the prescribed route one-way tour at the same time, designed to control the flow of visitors. The Louvre opened 70% of the public areas on the 6th, and some areas are still closed due to difficulties in controlling the flow of people. The Louvre also specially produced a one-minute anti-epidemic cartoon to help visitors understand the relevant information.
Martinez, director of the Louvre Museum, welcomed the first group of visitors outside the glass pyramid that day. Due to epidemic prevention and control and other reasons, the Louvre official estimates that only about 7,000 visitors can enter the Louvre on the 6th. Before the outbreak, the summer is generally the peak season for the Louvre, and international tourists have come here, receiving up to 50,000 visitors every day.
The picture shows a long queue of tourists waiting in front of the Louvre Museum.
Since international travel is still far from being restored, most of the visitors on that day are still local French citizens, and very few international tourists. Foreign visitors to the Louvre usually account for more than 70% of the total number of visitors to the Louvre. Visitors from the United States, China and EU countries are very important to the Louvre. The absence of international tourists means a significant drop in the number of visitors to the Louvre.
Officials estimate that the number of visitors to the Louvre this summer may only reach 20% to 30% last summer. The large decline in the number of visitors has caused serious economic losses to the Louvre. Martinez previously stated that the estimated loss is more than 40 million euros.
French officials have opened museums, tourist attractions and historical monuments all over France from the beginning of June. Attractions such as the Palace of Versailles, the Eiffel Tower and the Grand Palais in Paris have been opened. (Finish)