The Louvre Museum in Paris, closed for six months during France’s Covid-19 lockdowns, saw visitor numbers drop to 2.7 million in 2020 from 9.6 million in 2019 and 10.2 million in 2018. This led to a revenue loss of over 90 million euros compared to 2019.
Impact of Travel Restrictions
Foreign visitors, who typically make up three-quarters of attendees, especially from the U.S., China, Japan, and Brazil, were nearly absent, particularly during the peak summer season, severely impacting operations.
Leonardo da Vinci Exhibition Success
The Louvre offset some losses with its Leonardo da Vinci exhibition, which attracted 1.1 million visitors before France’s spring 2020 lockdown, providing a financial and visibility boost.
Digital Growth and Fundraising
The museum expanded its digital presence, growing online subscribers to 9.3 million and recording 21 million website visits. Fundraising efforts included the documentary A Night at the Louvre: Leonardo da Vinci and a Christie’s auction, “Bid for the Louvre,” raising 2.4 million euros. A livestreamed David Guetta concert drew 16 million viewers.
French Tourism Hit Hard
France’s tourism sector, the world’s top destination, lost 61 billion euros in 2020, a 41% drop to 89 billion. Tourism Minister Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne called it a “shock” but noted France’s resilience due to domestic and regional visitors.
