Indian tourists to France surge 40% after UPI adoption: Lyra Network chief
France has recorded a 40% rise in Indian tourists since adopting India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) for digital transactions last year, a top fintech executive said.
Christophe Mariette, Chairman of Lyra Network, attributed the surge to the ease and security UPI offers Indian travellers. Speaking at the Global Fintech Fest 2025, Mariette said the integration of UPI at major French landmarks, including the Eiffel Tower, has boosted convenience and confidence among visitors.
“We launched UPI at the Eiffel Tower more than a year ago, and it’s going quite well. The general manager of the Eiffel Tower told me that the number of Indian tourists has increased by about 40%,” Mariette told ANI.
“When you travel abroad, you feel more secure using your own payment method. The great thing about UPI is that you see the expense in rupees, and the exact amount is deducted from your account. It’s very secure for Indian tourists,” he added.
According to the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), which developed UPI, the system enables multiple bank accounts to be linked to a single mobile application, combining banking features, fund transfers, and merchant payments. Launched in April 2016 by then-RBI Governor Raghuram G. Rajan, UPI has since become one of the world’s most widely used digital payment systems.
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