Thousands of European tourists who have traveled to the country with the old pink tourist cards sold to them at Dominican consulates or by their tour operators have had the unpleasant surprise of finding that they are invalid. They now must purchase one of the new green cards issued by the Dirección General de Rentas Internas. The change was made without retrieving those in the hands of Dominican consuls or tour operators. In a report in the Listin Diario it was explained that there were many false pink cards in circulation, hence the change. The measure has brought strong protests from incoming visitors.