A payment bank card for foreign tourists will be fully launched in Russia by the end of 2024. It is currently operating in test mode, according to Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko. According to him, this program was launched with the support of the Moscow authorities.
The need to introduce a new type of card arose after the departure of international Visa and Mastercard systems from Russia. This led to a decrease in the tourist flow from other countries.
At the end of 2022, Chernyshenko instructed the relevant departments to work out the possibility of creating a "Tourist Card." The Central Bank, the Ministry of Digital Development, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Economic Development were to be involved in the project.
In the summer of 2023, deputies of the lower house of parliament adopted a bill that allowed banks in Russia to open accounts for foreign citizens and companies, as well as issue cards of the domestic payment system "Mir".
It was expected that foreign tourists would be able to book tours with this card, and pay for purchases upon arrival in Russia. In November 2023, the Ministry of Economic Development announced that the "Tourist Card" would be launched in early 2024.
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