Bryant Park, the prime tourist attraction in Kodaikanal, created history of sorts on Wednesday by crossing the Rs.1 crore mark in revenue collection in about two months.
The park earned a total revenue of Rs.1,00,04,950 from April 1 to June 5 from entrance tickets and fees charged for still and video cameras, surpassing previous figures. "This is the highest revenue the park has earned in the last five decades. The revenue in the first quarter of this fiscal was more than double the amount of Rs.49.89 lakh collected in the corresponding period last year," said Deputy Director of Horticulture S. Raja Mohammad.
The 10-day summer festival saw a revenue collection of Rs.62.57 lakh ticket sales. The two-day flower show grossed Rs.11.42 lakh.
The park attracted 3.6 lakh tourists this summer, he noted.
"We have already achieved 80 per cent of the target for this financial year. Strict monitoring and restriction on free passes helped officials achieve the target." The hill station will move into the second season in August and September, which may extend to October, which is usually marked by an influx of foreign tourists, notably from Israel and Europe, Mr.Mohammad said. August would be ideal for tourists coming in groups, and school and college students, he added.
Officials attributed the record tourist arrivals to the introduction of new plant varieties as well as the dawn-to-dusk entertainment programmes staged in the park. Normally, tourist numbers dwindle after May 31.
