France's Louvre Museum reopened on Monday after closing in March due to the coronavirus. But things are far from business as usual.
The world's most visited museum has carried out new measures, including a mask requirement and an online-only reservation system to protect art lovers from the virus.
One unintended consequence of these restrictions has been an experience devoid (缺乏的) of the usual crowds of tourists, which normally reach up to 50,000 people a day.
Freddie Keen, visiting from London with some friends, told NPR it was easy to take his time seeing some of the Louvre's top attractions. "It was definitely a much more comfortable experience seeing the Mona Lisa without having any peer pressure from hundreds of people staring at you and waiting for you to move on," Keen said.
Floor markers in the hall, where the Mona Lisa is held, have been put in place to ensure guests keep a physical distance of at least 3 feet. Visitors must also follow a one-way path through the building. A third of the museum is still closed to the public.
International tourists made up around 70% of the 9.6 million visitors in 2019. Museum Director Jean-Luc Martinez said he was hoping to attract more French tourists this summer because of the current travel restrictions.
"We are going to be at best 20 to 30% down on last summer," Martinez told Agence France-Presse, adding that the museum expects between 4,000 and 10,000 visitors a day.
During the four-month shutdown, the famous art destination lost an equivalent (等价物) of $45 million in ticket sales this year. However, France's tourism industry could soon get a much-needed boost. Last week, the European Union lifted travel restrictions on visitors from more than a dozen countries considered low risk for spreading the coronavirus. Because of the rising level of virus infections among Americans, the United States was not included on the list.
4. What one can experience with new measures taken in Louvre Museum?
A.Wearing masks offered by the museum. |
B.Appreciating works of art with experts. |
C.Visiting the museum with fewer tourists. |
D.Enjoying tour-guide service free of charge. |
5. How does Louvre Museum keep visitors at a safe distance while visiting?
A.By persuading them to wear masks. |
B.By closing some districts to the public. |
C.By accepting online-only reservation. |
D.By sticking markers onto the floor. |
6. Where do the current potential visitors probably come from?
A.France itself. | B.The United States. |
C.European countries. | D.Around the world. |
7. What can we learn from the last paragraph?
A.Restrictions on tourism will remain strict. |
B.Louvre Museum suffered the greatest loss. |
C.France’s tourism could gradually improve. |
D.Americans are resistant to the coronavirus. |