Plague of Phone-Addicted Tourists Shuts Down the Louvre
Plague of Phone-Addicted Tourists Shuts Down the Louvre
Wow, that is a useless headline, I was wondering - how is that different than any other day there? Did something special happen with the tourists? Did they clog up the entry in a way that the Louvre had to shut down?
No, it was in fact not the tourists shutting down anything, it was a strike, the workers using the power they have:
On Monday, staff at the world’s most-visited museum went on strike, forcing the museum to close its doors over concerns about the effects of mass tourism, according to the Associated Press.
[...]
The shutdown followed a weekend of protests against tourism that spread across Europe. In Spain, travelers hanging out at popular tourist destinations were drenched by demonstrators armed with water guns. Mass demonstrations also broke out in Mallorca, Venice, Italy, and Portugal’s capital of Lisbon, per the AP, with locals leading chants like “Everywhere you look, all you see are tourists.”
So while it is in connection to actions against tourism, the headline really makes it sound, like it's more a "bizzarre thing involving tourists happening" thing, not a strike.
Absolutely. The only mention of phones, at all, is in conjunction with the masses taking pictures of the Mona Lisa. Which is such a bizarre thing (the painting being tiny and so incredibly far away) that you feel compelled to take a picture just to show how strange it is.
At the same time, thanks to the decline in US tourism this year, the situation in Europe is at an all time worst when it comes to cost, crowding, and annoyance. The strike, it is mentioned, was due to the overcrowding.
People employed due to tourist revenue are angry about tourists. That's some real funny stuff .
The concern about AirBnBs driving up prices is valid though, but is a failure of local politics.
It wouldn't be that difficult to fine everyone who rents a rental unit not for touristic use on Airbnb into oblivion. These assholes usually also don't pay taxesPeople employed due to tourist revenue are angry about tourists. That’s some real funny stuff .
Seriously ... how long do they think they can sustain a museum with just local visitors? Like are they expecting regulars? Do some Parisians just want to look at the Mona Lisa once a week?
People aren't annoyed with regular tourists, but with completely and utterly regarded morons.
This kind of person: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/16/palazzo-maffei-verona-italian-museum-police-tourists-van-gogh-chair
Why do you need to take pictures of it with your phone? I mean it.
There are perfect 8K resolution pictures taken by a professional that you could use to print and hang it in your wall, and it would look the part.Instead of taking the opportunity of appreciating what you have in front of your stupid nose, no, let's crowd the field of vision of everyone in the room with our phones so we can all compete for the worst picture anyone has ever taken.
Agree so much. Art should make you stop in awe, not want to share your location with your internet friends. Buy a post card and pop it on the fridge. Feel fuzzy and lucky that you got to see something wonderful
I’ve been a tourist for ages, and the perfect tourist attraction is quiet with a few people max.
Didn't knew that taking a picture at a special location, means "phone addicted" nowadays.
Yeah, it depends on how much you value clicks against your work ethics as a journalist
I don‘t see why it would even matter. It‘s about tourism protests not about phone protests.
If you are in California just go see the next best thing. I had my coworker's face photoshopped onto the Mona Lisa, printed it on canvas the same size and hung it in the bathroom with a seat directly across from it. Just tell them blackout sent ya.
There’s lots of butt hurt in here. Interesting how many consider their contribution as acceptable