It certainly won't be Lonely Planet's fault if tourists don't flock to New Zealand.
The 13th edition of the best-selling guide, published yesterday, is ecstatic about our scenery, food and wine, friendliness, quirky humour, music and progressive politics.
"The world's biggest film set is also the world's must-visit destination for the umpteenth year in a row," gushes the introduction. "No wonder the locals are smiling. They've long known they live in paradise and now everyone else does too."
It adds that "a pretty backdrop is not all New Zealand has going for it. Genuinely friendly locals go out of their way to ensure visitors feel welcome. There is a vibrant Maori culture too, for this is a country that recognises and respects its indigenous people."
Australian-based Lonely Planet has long been enthusiastic about New Zealand but this latest edition is almost over the top in its praise.
Auckland, which has "a full menu of multicultural delights" and "more sandy beaches and beautiful islands than seems entirely fair" is "one hell of a destination".
Maybe there's a little sarcasm in the description of Hamilton as "the capital of nice" but the Waikato is "postcard-perfect rural New Zealand".
Even "windy Wellington" is "imbued with an easy, accessible blend of the political, the academic and the creative".
A couple of flaws are hinted at. Green MP Nandor Tanczos declares that "to describe ourselves as 'clean and green' ... is 100 per cent pure fantasy" and urges visitors to promote change by asking locals "where the recycling centre is".
The Far North town of Kaitaia is described as "the highlight of no one's trip to New Zealand" with a severe problem of theft from cars while in the Far South the only reason to visit "shabby little Bluff" is to get the ferry to Stewart Island.
Far North District Council Mayor Yvonne Sharp said every community had its pluses and minuses, "but for them to pick out just the bad things is very unfortunate ... certainly Kaitaia would not be the only place in New Zealand that suffers from car theft".
Bluff promotions and publicity officer Lindsay Beer said the deep south township was having a makeover and people who criticised the place had probably never been there.
"Our town is the oldest European settlement in New Zealand and we offer a lifestyle which is pretty relaxed in this part of the world - a lot of people who visit often return to live," he said.
Also in the Lonely Planet, Sir Ian McKellen (aka Gandalf) reveals "the well-kept secret of sandflies" but adds "I would hope that travellers find them an insignificant pest compared with the glory of their habitat".
This thespian tribute follows the endorsement by Scarlett Johansson, who commented at the Venice Film Festival that she liked Auckland as "a very modern city" where "people watch movies and are into art".
Lonely Planet's love affair with New Zealand is no small matter. It is the largest independent travel publishing company in the world, with more than 600 titles in print and selling more than six million books a year.
Since the first New Zealand guide was produced 29 years ago 1.5 million of them have been sold.