MORE than 220,000 people converged on Llanelwedd for the four-day Royal Welsh Show by the end of the week.
The four-day figure of 226,407 was above the five-year average of 223,124, but did not quite match the record set in 2006 of 240,140.
Nearly 50,000 people flocked through the gates on the first day of the annual agricultural event.
But Monday’s attendance of 48,610 was 3,800 down on last year's, and 2,000 below the Llanelwedd show's five-year average.
Officials blamed the tough economic climate and poor weather conditions for the drop in visitors.
A fly-past by the only airworthy Lancaster bomber left in Britain helped to attract one of the highest Tuesday crowds seen at the Royal Welsh Show.
A total of 61,263 visitors went through the gates, 4,000 more than the five-year show average and 5,400 up on Tuesday last year.
On Wednesday afternoon 65,280 people went through the turnstiles at the Showground, with the final figure coming in at 66,803.
This is slightly down on the previous year’s final total of 70,613 - a drop of more than 3,800 visitors.
The show, which this year featured the North Wales county of Caernarfonshire, was officially opened by retired farmer Hywel Richards, a doyen of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society, from Criccieth, Gwynedd.
A former High Sheriff of Gwynedd and a Life Governor of the Royal Welsh Show.
The Duke of Kent visited the show on Wednesday and his programme took in tours of the pig section, the sheep shearing centre, horse shoeing, forestry, the Countryside Care and Country Pursuits areas, and he will watch Welsh Cobs in the main ring.
The main attractions at the show included the famous horse trainer Jean Francois Pignon and the Bolddog Lings Freestyle Motorcycle Display Team.
For a full round-up of this year's Show, pick up a copy of this week's County Times in stores now, which features a free eight page pull-out.