Louvre rebounds from 9/11 shock

The Louvre Museum had 12% more visitors last year than in 2001, as tourism rebounded from the shock of the Sept. 11 attacks and art lovers flocked to an exhibit on ancient Egypt.

About 5.7 million people visited in 2002, the Paris art museum reported. On 32 separate occasions, the museum opened its doors to more than 30,000 people in a single day.

The Louvre had a tough year in 2001, with tourism taking a disastrous turn on Sept. 11. In 2001, only 5.2 million people visited -- 15% fewer visitors than in 2000.

Museum strikes also kept many tourists away in 2001. At one point, the Louvre was closed for eight straight days during a fall 2001 strike that affected most museums and monuments in the capital.

In 2002, the art museum lured visitors back with a hit exhibit on mummies and artwork from ancient Egypt.