Almere city council has voted to press ahead with organising the Floriade flower and garden show in 2022, despite the need for additional investment of €16.3m.

Councillors voted 31 for and 14 against to continue with the project, which outside experts had said would help put Almere on the map as a ‘green and healthy city’.

The original budget for hosting the exhibition, which is held every 10 years, was put at €10m, but that has now risen to €60m. Officials hope to raise the extra funds by selling parts of the exhibition site to developers, who will build a green residential area after the Floriade is over.

The last Floriade in Venlo, Limburg in 2012 was also a financial flop and failed to boost tourist numbers.

Local entrepreneurs had expected a surge in visitors but the number of tourists to the region only reached 2.5 million, 100,000 down on the previous year. Local councils were left with a €9m bill for running the show.