Over a month after heist, Louvre museum to hike ticket prices for non-EU tourists by 45%

The price hike, which comes a month after the management of the museum was scrutinised for inadequate security systems and ageing infrastructure, is expected to raise millions of euros annually to fund an overhaul of the famous gallery, the report highlighted quoting an official audit.

From January 14, visitors from countries outside the European Economic Area — a group which includes EU member states, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein — will pay an extra €10 to enter the world’s most visited museum, BBC report stated.

The Louvre received close to 9 million visitors last year, with the majority coming from abroad, as per the report. More than a tenth of its visitors are from the US and around 6 per cent from China, according to the museum.

The heist took place at Louvre on October 19 when a four-person gang stole jewellery worth $102 million (£76 million) and fled within minutes. The items included a diamond-and-emerald necklace given by Napoleon to Empress Marie-Louise, pieces linked to Queens Marie-Amélie and Hortense, and a pearl-and-diamond tiara once worn by Empress Eugénie. The jewels have not been found yet.

On November 25, French authorities arrested four suspects in the investigation, AP reported. Four other suspects were arrested earlier and placed under formal investigation on October 29 and November 1.

French investigating magistrates have so far filed preliminary charges against three men and one woman detailed last month, as suspects who carried out the daylight robbery.

(With inputs from BBC, AP)