Figures released by the Dunedin City Council yesterday showed the garden would later this year deliver its first increase in annual visitor numbers since opening in 2008.
Last year, the Otago Daily Times reported visitor numbers had dropped year-on-year, from 83,193 in 2008-09 to 28,243 by 2011-12, while losses covered by ratepayer funding had reached $1.02 million.
However, the latest figures showed 31,095 visitors had passed through the garden's gates since July 1 last year, representing an increase on 2011-12 with three months still to go.
Garden manager Margo Reid could not be contacted yesterday, but council city strategy and development general manager Dr Sue Bidrose said the results were pleasing.
As well as working to trim expenses, without affecting the quality of the garden, it was ''really good'' to see increasing visitor numbers and revenue. That was in part due to the reopening of the refurbished and rebranded museum next door, which has now attracted 170,000 visitors since December 6, she said.
''We said that would happen. We just had to grit our teeth and wait for that to happen,'' Dr Bidrose told this week's council finance, strategy and development committee meeting.
At the same time, the garden's finances had also improved and were running ''almost to budget'', council financial controller Maree Clarke told the meeting.
Revenue expectations had been reduced last year, down to a ''more realistic'' $260,000, but by last month stood at $177,498 - about $10,000 ahead of the corresponding time last year, Dr Bidrose said yesterday.
Museum director Linda Wigley said work was progressing on further changes that would deliver additional savings, including merging the management of the two attractions.
That would be implemented from July 1, when Ms Reid's garden role would cease.
The possibility of physically connecting the two entities would also be considered, as would the future of the garden's admission fee, she said.
It was too soon to say exactly how many museum visitors were also visiting the garden, but a survey beginning shortly would attempt to clarify that, she said.
''I'm sure it will be having a knock-on effect,'' Ms Wigley said.
