LOUVRE MUSEUM IN PARIS TO RAISE TICKET PRICES FOR NON-EU VISITORS. (PHOTO).

 Louvre Museum in Paris to raise ticket prices for non-EU visitors

 The Louvre museum in Paris will raise ticket prices for visitors from outside the European Union from 22 to 32 euros, starting in January, to help fund a major renovation following the October 19 crown jewels heist. The price increase, announced as part of a decade-long modernization plan, will apply to non-EU nationals, with Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway exempted under the European Economic Area agreement.

In 2024, the museum welcomed 8.7 million visitors, with 77% coming from abroad, including large numbers from the U.S., China, and the U.K., who will now face the higher fee. The Louvre’s director said emergency measures are already being implemented to strengthen security after the robbery and emphasized that the museum’s last major overhaul in the 1980s is now outdated.

The “Louvre New Renaissance” plan, projected to cost up to 800 million euros, aims to modernize infrastructure, reduce crowding, and provide a dedicated gallery for the Mona Lisa by 2031. During the October heist, thieves used a freight lift and power tools to break into display cases in the Apollo Gallery, escaping with the stolen items on scooters in less than eight minutes. Authorities recently announced four more arrests connected to the theft, with the suspects in custody awaiting further judicial decisions.