The Louvre Sees a 70% Decrease in Footfall in 2020

The pandemic has altered the footfall of museums across the world. The Louvre stood in relative isolation as tourists kept away due to the health crisis. Home to the majestic painting of Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci, the museum was closed for more than six months due to COVID-19 restrictions and guidelines. 

A major tourist attraction and central to France&rsquos tourism industry, The Louvre saw visitors plunge to 2.7 million in 2020, down from 9.6 million in 2019, and the 10.2 million reported in 2018. 

This has resulted in a fall in profits, of 90 million euros, in comparison to 2019.  

The museum used the off time to digitally boost its collection and offer the experience of the museum online. The number of online subscribers has been growing steadily. It was at more than a million subscribers in 2019. The latest numbers show it is at 9.3 million, with the website itself registering 21 million hits.

Not allowing the pandemic to further restrict access to timeless art, the museum has found a new way to collect funds with the worldwide distribution of the documentary &lsquoA Night at the Louvre Leonardo da Vinci' and 'Bid for the Louvre' which collected around 2.4 million euros through auctioning works of living artists.

A New Year concert performed by DJ and songwriter David Guetta was live streamed as a fundraising programme which attracted 16 million viewers. 

Even as the French government reported that income through tourism has taken a shocking hit - a 41% decline or 61 million euros), standing at a value of 89 million in 2020, France has been able to withstand the COVID crisis with appreciable resilience.