Known as the third most visited attraction in the French crucifixes, the Pompidou Center in Paris will undergo a transformative hiatus spanning five years.
During this period, travellers will not be able to visit centre. They will be welcomed back in 2030 once the centre opens its doors again.
The imminent closure is necessitated by an extensive renovation initiative to breathe new life into the Center Pompidou. The closure is scheduled to last from 2025 to 2030.
Within the heart of the centre lie excellent galleries, a literary haven in the form of a library, and a culinary gem in the form of a restaurant. These distinctive features will undergo meticulous repairs and construction efforts during the comprehensive revitalisation process.
In this regard, the Minister of Culture in France, Rima Abdul Malak, revealed that this ambitious venture’s estimated cost is €260 million.
The closure of the Centre Pompidou was anticipated in September 2023. However, a strategic shift in plans occurred, leading to the decision to defer the shutdown until after the conclusion of the Summer Olympics slated to unfold in Paris in 2024.
Previously, French authorities said Paris is poised to welcome over a million tourists during the 2024 Olympics. The city will hold a diverse assembly of participants, including 10,500 athletes, 4,400 para-athletes, 206 delegations, and 39 competition venues spanning July 26 to August 11.
Data from the German statistical platform Statista revealed a remarkable revival of visitor arrivals in Paris and the Île-de-France region. In 2022, the number of arrivals almost doubled compared to the previous year, marking a significant rebound from the negative impacts of the initial COVID-19 pandemic.
Statistics show that around 24.7 million domestic and 19.4 million foreign visitors flocked to Paris and Île-de-France. While these figures show a marked resurgence, they narrowly trail the peak figures in 2019, which saw 28.4 million domestic visitors and 22.2 million international visitors.
Moreover, hoteliers in Paris have recently expressed concern over a government proposal to triple the tourist tax on hotel nights next year during the Olympic period.
The government justifies this 200 per cent tax increase by stating that the additional revenue will be allocated to support public transport. The tourist tax in Paris ranges from €0.25 ($0.27) per night for basic accommodations to €5 ($5.5) per night for high-end establishments. The same authority aims to triple these rates as part of its 2024 budget, aiming to pass it through parliament without a vote before Christmas.
During this week, it was also announced that France will become the first member state of the European Union to switch the application process for a French Schengen visa to a completely online system. In addition, digital visas will be issued to over 70,000 applicants participating in the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Starting January 1, 2024, France has implemented the “Olympic Consulate” system to process applications for 15,000 international athletes, 9,000 journalists, and foreign delegations involved in future Games.
