CM launches platinum, gold cards to promote tourism

Chennai, Jul 9 (UNI) As part of tourism promotion initiative and to attract more tourists into the state, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today launched 'platinum' and 'gold' cards valued at Rs 5,000 and Rs 1,000, respectively.

Mr Karunanidhi handed over the first platinum card to noted danseuse Shobana Ramesh and gold card to film director S P Muthuraman at the State Secretariat in the presence of State Tourism Minister N Suresh Rajan.

Tourists possessing these cards could avail ten per cent discount during peak season and 20 per cent during off season in Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC) hotels at hilly stations like Ooty, Kodaikanal and Yercaud.

During the tourist season of April to June, the concessional stay would be applicable only for three days in hilly places like Udhagamanadalam, Kodaikanal and Yercaud. In other hotels manned by the TTDC across the state, the discount offer of 20 per cent would be applicable all through the year.

The validity of platinum cards would be for a period of ten years and gold card three years, an official release said.

The card holders would also be eligible for ten per cent discount in TTDC run restaurants and boat houses all through the year.

Observing that the occupancy rate in TTDC hotels had increased from 50 to 60 per cent during the last two years, an official release here said launching of platinum and gold cards would help tourists to avail discounts in all TTDC hotels across the state including important tourist places like Madurai, Thanjavur, Rameswaram, Tiruchendur, Mamallapuram, Ooty, Yercaud and Kodaikanal.

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