This year has seen an "extraordinary period of growth" for international guests staying in Wairarapa, figures show.
"Seven of the last eight months have shown a growth ... with June 2013 having a 96 per cent increase in international guest nights on the previous June," said Katie Farman of Destination Wairarapa.
"Wairarapa's length of stay is ahead of major tourism centres such as Taupo, Rotorua and Marlborough."
More than 200 tourism professionals descended on Wairarapa last week for the Tourism Export Council Conference, based at the Copthorne Solway Park Hotel and Resort.
Delegates got a chance to sample a Wairarapa "snapshot" with familiarisation tours taken in Hood Aerodrome, Greytown, the Rimutaka Rail Trail and Homebush's Gypsy River Camp.
