UPI Goes To France: Book Eiffel Tower Tickets With UPI!

Planning a trip to Paris? Now, you can book your tickets to the Eiffel Tower using Unified Payments Interface (UPI), thanks to a partnership between NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) and Lyra, a leading French payment security company.

This announcement was made during a special event at Paris, organized by the Indian Embassy in France to celebrate India’s Republic Day. Notable guests, including His Excellency M. Jawed Ashraf, the Ambassador of India to France and Monaco, were present to mark this significant milestone.

UPI formally launched at the iconic Eiffel Tower at the huge Republic Day Reception. 🇮🇳➡️🇫🇷

Implementing PM @narendramodi’s announcement & the vision of taking UPI global. pic.twitter.com/abl7IPJ0To

— India in France (@IndiaembFrance) February 2, 2024

Why is UPI in Paris such a big deal?

Indian tourists are one of the largest groups visiting the Eiffel Tower, and now, they can enjoy a seamless payment experience. By simply scanning a QR code generated on the merchant’s website using their UPI-powered apps, travelers can make quick and secure online transactions.

But that’s not all. The introduction of UPI payments at the Eiffel Tower opens up exciting opportunities for merchants across France and Europe. This move will soon extend to other tourism and retail sectors, making it easier for Indian travelers to book hotels, museum visits, and more during their stay in France.

How to use UPI to book tickets for the Eiffel Tower?

Booking your Eiffel Tower tickets with UPI is straightforward. Just use your UPI app to scan the QR code on the merchant’s website and complete the payment. It’s that simple!

India-France Relations Strengthened

French President Emmanuel Macron visited India as a guest for the 75th Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi this year. Post the event, he was hosted by Prime Minister Modi and also introduced to the method of UPI payments in India by him. In a post shared by the French President, he expressed his gratitude for the “exceptional trip in India” with a video, further demonstrating how the relations between the two nations have strengthened.

A look back at an exceptional trip in India. pic.twitter.com/ldldTasdOw

— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) February 4, 2024

Additionally, this integration of UPI in France is a game-changer for cross-border transactions. It not only boosts convenience for travelers but also accelerates UPI adoption among French merchants, ensuring secure and interoperable payments.

As quoted in the announcement, Christophe Mariette, Commercial Director of Lyra France, said, “It is a great pride to have the trust of the Indian government and NIPL to launch UPI in Europe. We have been present in India for 17 years, and this partnership confirms the strength of our collaboration with this vast country. We also demonstrate our ability to stay ahead of market trends and strengthen our ambition to offer all payment methods used worldwide. For the players in the French and European tourism ecosystem, this partnership represents a major advancement and the promise of new business opportunities to come.”

Rajesh Desai, CEO and MD of Lyra Network, shared exciting plans for the future, aiming to expand UPI solutions globally and collaborate with various stakeholders in the fintech and banking sectors.

With UPI transactions soaring globally, this move marks a significant step forward in revolutionizing payment methods and fostering economic collaboration between India and France. The number of UPI transactions in January 2024 itself hit a record 12.2 billion. So, the next time you visit the Eiffel Tower, leave your Euros in your wallet and pay in INR by embracing the convenience of UPI payments!