Snowsports New Zealand says the Winter Games has provided the single biggest shot in the arm ever received by skiers and snowboarders.
The nine-day festival, which ended on Sunday, attracted hundreds of the world's best skiers and snow sports athletes to Queenstown, Wanaka, Naseby and Dunedin.
Medals were won by representatives of 17 countries in the first-ever winter games held in the southern hemisphere.
Winter Games chief executive Arthur Klap says more than 800 competitors from 40 nations took part - including gold medallists from the Olympics and X-Games.
He says integrating disabled skiers into the able-bodied programme was a bold move that also proved hugely successful.
Snowsports New Zealand chief executive Ross Palmer believes the Winter Games will be back in 2011, with another economic boost before then.
Mr Palmer says the International Ski Federation has selected New Zealand to host the 2010 snowboard and freestyle world junior championships.
He estimates recreational snow sports and related tourism are worth $200 million a year to New Zealand's economy.
