India's UPI Payment Struggles to Gain Traction at Eiffel Tower

The implementation of UPI payments at the Eiffel Tower aimed to facilitate transactions for Indian tourists, but the system has not been widely adopted. Despite the official website offering UPI for online bookings, many local services and merchants in Paris are yet to accept this mode of payment.

When asked about using UPI or QR-code payments to buy tickets at the Eiffel Tower, the information desk official seemed unaware. The United Payments Interface (UPI) was launched in Paris, geared towards helping Indians avoid currency exchange complications.

The Eiffel Tower was the first French landmark to offer UPI services, intended to expand across Europe. However, ticket counters lack information or arrangements for QR-code payments.

Although the official website supports UPI, other platforms do not. UPI's global reach includes countries like UAE and Singapore. Yet, QR-code acceptance in Europe remains minimal, facing cultural resistance.

(With inputs from agencies.)