For the first time in recent years, the 38 India Tourist and Industrial Fair 2012 recorded a steep fall in the number of people visiting Island Grounds.
At the end of 71-day expo that started on January 8, the Industrial Fair received 10.60 lakh visitors against 17 lakh people for the corresponding period last year. There was also a steep decline in the number of schoolchildren from 4.80 lakh to two lakh.
Tourism officials attributed the poor turnout to the October civic polls, intermittent rains, the book fair and holiday season starting from third week of December.
According to Tourism Minister S. Gokula Indira, the fair fetched revenue of Rs.4.71 crore and a profit of Rs.2.53 crore marking an increase of 22 per cent over last year's profit of Rs.2.06 crore. Last year, it was Rs.4.89 crore.
Delivering the keynote address at the valedictory function, Ms. Indira said that over the last 38 years, the number of persons visiting the fair had increased from a mere 30,000 to 10.60 lakh with a corresponding increase in number of participants. In all 45 awards were distributed under 13 categories. Fire and Rescue Services bagged the first completed pavilion award, Chennai Metropolitan Transport Corporation for outstanding services, Tamil Nadu Police bagged the first prize under the Tamil Nadu government departments category
Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department and Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption bagged the first two prizes for the best pavilion award for interior decoration. In the case of exterior decoration, it went to HR&CE department.
