Did the seven-week Rugby World Cup event lift visitor numbers to the Queenstown Lakes district?
The tournament brought 26% more visitors to New Zealand in September compared with the corresponding time last year, and a total of 74,355 of those were visiting for the cup alone.
However, the number of regular visitors to Queenstown was down 20% on last year.
New Zealand Hotel Council Queenstown chairwoman Penny Clark said the reasons for the low numbers were obvious - Queenstown's closest rugby host, Dunedin, was not allocated any quarterfinal or semifinal stage games and pool play ended three weeks ago.
"Rugby has disrupted visitor flow and it was a bit too hard for wholesalers to change their packages for two months."
Ms Clark said although there had been "boomer days" where the RWC buzz was felt in Queenstown, overall the town had missed out.
But all was not lost, because the long-term effects of the positive international media coverage surrounding the tournament would bring many visitors to the resort for years.
Queenstown retail and accommodation centres were hoping for a busy November-December to make up the lost revenue, but this should not be counted upon.
"We've got to be cautious about this summer, because we have got to look at the economic conditions of the rest of the world," she said.
"Certainly what I think we are all waiting for is normal visitor flow."
Much depended on the Japanese economic climate, and the strength of the New Zealand dollar was also a deterrent for international visitors.
Chairman of the Queenstown motel association Colin Chittock agreed visitor numbers had been down, but he remained positive.
"Christmas and New Year bookings are going along nicely."
The RWC was not the only thing affecting visitor numbers.
Greed exhibited by hotel and motel owners bumping up prices was certainly a factor, he said.
Arrowtown had also felt the pinch.
Adin May, the town's business association chairman, said there had been lower-than-expected trading figures and the consensus was that retail had been "soft".
"It's a combination of Rugby World Cup matches up north and usual visitors staying away.
"Tour groups that couldn't get accommodation [in other centres] haven't come through."
Destination Queenstown's chief executive Tony Everitt said the cup had generated a profile for the tourism capital that could not be bought with any amount of advertising. He said with over 150 journalists paying tribute to the town during their stay, the longer-term benefit would be felt.
It was fair to say numbers had been modest, but that also depended on the expectations, he said.
"The original strategy was a legacy for New Zealand, and we have got that. What you've got to think about is that it's an asset you can't cash up immediately and it will show up."
Not surprisingly, the most popular form of accommodation was the campervan.
Creekside Top 10 holiday park owner Erna Spijkerbosch said business at the park had been up and down, but campervans had helped to push numbers above last year's figures.
Mrs Spijkerbosch said the change had not been in numbers, but in who the visitors were.
"They're rugby followers, as opposed to your skiers and your Australian families."
She said people need to be realistic about what the RWC would achieve in terms of tourism to the country.
"It builds on all sorts of things, but I don't think it'll create a big flood straight away. It'll take two years."
