Indian tourists visiting Paris’ Eiffel Tower can now book their trip through the Unified Payment Interface (UPI), as announced by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) and Lyra, a French leader in e-commerce security and proximity payments, have introduced UPI payment acceptance in France, starting with the iconic Eiffel Tower. This allows Indian tourists to conveniently purchase tickets online using UPI, streamlining the transaction process. The announcement was made in Paris during an event organized by the Indian Embassy to commemorate India’s Republic Day.
During the event, Alain Lacour, President of the Lyra Group, Christophe Mariette, Commercial Director of Lyra France, and Patrick Branco Ruivo, CEO of Société d’Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel, were present. This development holds significance as Indian tourists rank as the second-largest group of international visitors to the Eiffel Tower. With the inclusion of UPI, Indian tourists can securely conduct online transactions by scanning the QR code on the merchant website and initiating payments through their UPI-powered apps.
The acceptance of UPI in France not only provides a seamless payment option for Indian tourists but also opens up opportunities for merchants in the tourism and retail sectors across France and Europe. Although the Eiffel Tower is the first to offer UPI payments in France, this service is expected to extend to other merchants in the tourism and retail space.
This enhancement simplifies the process for Indian tourists to remotely book hotels, museum visits, and other services for their stay in France. Ritesh Shukla, CEO of NIPL, expressed the ambition to enable NPCI’s payment solutions in international markets, aiming for a globally interoperable payment system. Through collaboration with Lyra, NIPL takes a step forward in achieving this goal.
Christophe Mariette, Commercial Director of Lyra France, expressed pride in launching UPI in Europe, showcasing the strength of their collaboration with India. With 17 years of presence in India, Lyra aims to stay ahead of market trends and provide a wide range of payment methods globally. This partnership signifies a significant advancement for players in the French and European tourism ecosystem, offering new business opportunities.