Page 13 - TBM_October_2024

SPOTLIGHT
TRAVELBIZ MONITOR OCTOBER, 2024 13
n

Eiffel Tower month since the beginning of mainly present between April/June, and Eiffel Tower was the first European site to
the year. The average age of visitor being November. implement the UPI payment system. In terms
over 30 years old, and more and more Therefore, India has emerged as a key of ticketing, 50% of tickets are available online
individual or family visitors (30% of visitors source market for the Eiffel Tower. and 50% are sold onsite at the towers cash
with children, mostly first-time visitors); In order to reach its goal in India, the desks.

involves the signing of a Memorandum Q What is the roadmap for UPI in
of Understanding (MoU) to facilitate France?
the acceptance of UPI and RuPay cards The initial focus is on expanding UPI
in France. This partnership marks a acceptance among French merchants,
significant achievement in India’s particularly in the tourism and retail
international payment landscape, as it sectors. This began with the landmark
paves the way for the expansion of UPI launch at the Eiffel Tower. The goal is to
and RuPay beyond Indian borders. make UPI a convenient payment option
for Indian tourists visiting France and to
Q What is the process to use an Indian encourage more French businesses to
adopt it.
UPI service at the Eiffel Tower?
Indian tourists can now book their visit to
the Eiffel Tower through their E-Commerce To Book refer the link below:
website by purchasing online ticket using https://ticket.toureiffel.paris/en
UPI — making the transaction process
quick, easy, and hassle-free.

Mannoj Varma
Director, Lyra India

Q Tell us about Lyra Network and its
association with NPCI. Q Any pre-requisite of making a
Lyra Network, a company founded in successful transaction.
2001 in Toulouse, France, has established System work similar as used in India.
itself as a leading provider of secure To use UPI for international payments
payment solutions for eCommerce and at the Eiffel Tower in France, you’ll need
point-of-sale transactions. With a strong to activate iUPI. This feature is available
expertise in fintech and paytech, Lyra has for Indian tourists traveling in Europe.
expanded its operations globally, offering The Eiffel Tower was the first merchant
its services in over 50 countries through to accept UPI payments, facilitated by
its 11 subsidiaries. Recognising Lyra’s Lyra.
expertise in European e-commerce and Other popular retailers like Galeries
proximity payments, NPCI International Lafayette have also adopted UPI. You can
Payments Limited (NIPL) has partnered use various UPI apps like BHIM, PhonePe,
with Lyra to introduce UPI in France. The and GPay to make payments by scanning
collaboration between NIPL and Lyra QR codes.

WWW.TRAVELBIZMONITOR.COM