UPI Adoption in France Boosts Indian Tourism by 40%: Lyra Network Chairman Reveals Digital Payment Impact

The implementation of India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) across France is significantly enhancing the travel experience for Indian tourists while simultaneously boosting tourism numbers, according to Christophe Mariette, who chairs Lyra Network.

During an exclusive interview with ANI at the Global Fintech Fest 2025, Mariette revealed that UPI payment availability at major French tourist attractions has contributed to a remarkable 40% increase in visitors from India.

"We introduced UPI at the Eiffel Tower over a year ago, and the results have been impressive. The general manager of the Eiffel Tower recently informed me that Indian tourist numbers have grown by 40 percent," Mariette shared.

The chairman explained that access to familiar payment systems like UPI creates a greater sense of security for Indian travelers abroad.

"Travelers feel considerably more secure using their preferred payment method while overseas. A key advantage of UPI is that it displays the exact expense amount in rupees, which is then deducted from your account accordingly. This provides Indian tourists visiting France with enhanced payment security," he elaborated.

Regarding Lyra Network's Indian operations, Mariette mentioned that the company has maintained a presence in India for more than 18 years.

"We collaborate with major banking institutions in India. Having received our payment aggregator approval from the Reserve Bank of India, we're delighted to see UPI gaining wider acceptance," he stated.

Mariette also revealed that UPI payments will soon be available at Bicester Village, beginning with La Vallee Village in France.

"Indian travelers appreciate luxury shopping, especially with discounts, which is precisely what Bicester offers," noted Mariette, highlighting the growing integration between India's financial technology ecosystem and international retail destinations.

Bicester Village is a prominent designer outlet shopping center located on the outskirts of Bicester, a town in Oxfordshire, England.