The Tourism Industry Association says it will be hard to measure the economic benefit from Prince Harry's visit, but it is unlikely to be as significant as last year's visit by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their son George.
Prince Harry is greeted by a soldier at Linton Military Camp. Photo: Pool
Association chief executive Chris Roberts said the couple's visit last year was extensively covered by British, German, and American media, in particular.
Mr Roberts said Prince Harry had been featured mostly in the British press, albeit with positive and uniquely New Zealand images such as quiz night on Stewart Island and a hongi with a female soldier.
Mr Roberts said travel bookings jumped after last year's royal visit, and that may happen again now.
Photo Gallery - Prince Harry's NZ trip
Trade show in Rotorua this week
Meanwhile, tens of millions of dollars in tourism deals will be done in Rotorua this week as tourism operators meet to sell accommodation and activities to international buyers.
The Trenz tourism trade show, which opens tonight at the Te Puia cultural centre, is expected to inject $2 million into the Rotorua economy alone this week.
Mr Roberts said operators would be capitalising on the current boom in the tourism industry.
"We have almost 300 exhibitors and 320 buyers in almost speed dating mode for three days going around 15 minute appointments with each exhibitor, finding out about that product deciding whether to put into their programme to sell in their market."
Mr Roberts said the event had attracted the biggest ever contingent of tour operators from China and from new markets such as India, Indonesia and Brazil.
