MOSCOW, March 24. /TASS/. Russian tour operators have started offering special trips for those who wish to obtain foreign Visa and Mastercard cards, the Association of Tour Operators of Russia said in a statement.

"Vaccination trips have somewhat lost their relevance and are about to be replaced by trips where tourists can get foreign Visa and Mastercard cards. This kind of trips to Uzbekistan, operated by Vedi Group, are already available on the market. Other tour operators are ready to organize similar tours to Armenia, Kazakhstan and other countries, perhaps including Turkey," the statement reads.

Vedi Group offers three-day trips, on the second day tourists have the possibility to apply and get Visa and Mastercard cards at a local bank with the assistance of the tour operator’s local partners.

Intourist’s press service said that the company was in consultations with its partners in Armenia, Uzbekistan and Turkey on launching such trips. Banking sector experts expect that the number of tourist companies offering the so-called "card issuance tours" to former Soviet countries will grow.