"We've actually had some record growth numbers ... it's been a record September quarter and certainly the highest quarter in our history in terms of Tourism Research Australia numbers," said Orange360's Caddie Marshall.

Ms Marshall said Orange had been "well placed" to take advantage of a market in which interstate and foreign travel and pleasure cruising all experienced dramatic collapses.

"Our industry was ready, [with] the reputation we've been able to establish over the last 30 years as a leading regional destination, not just for NSW but for Australia, and that's been endorsed by Qantas flying in," she said.

"We've seen the benefit of people coming here and then going back and telling their friends, and then wanting to come back again and again and again.

"That is the feedback."

Ms Marshall said that tourists and travel media who had come to Orange since the beginning of the pandemic had commented on the "stellar approach" taken by the city with regards to keeping people safe.

"As a result of this we've had record visitation numbers and no [community spread] of COVID."

She said the area's more than 30 cellar doors were the "main reason" people travelled to Orange.

"The views are stunning and people want to linger longer.

"We're going to see more and more people come to our region and we'll see them staying longer.

"They used to come on a Saturday but now they're coming on a Thursday and leaving on a Monday."

Local villages were also benefiting, she said, as tourists headed out to explore.

Ms Marshall said that photos taken by tourists and posted to social media sites such as Instagram had helped keep Orange in the spotlight.

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