That at least was the view of the Norwegian delegate, pausing briefly at the Garden House in Buckland Monachorum last week during a whistle-stop tour of the South West by some of Europe's top tourism officials.
Rolf Forsdahl, president of the Norwegian travel agents' association, said: 'This is absolutely beautiful — it's very different and there's a trend in the travel industry where people are looking for something different — everybody has been everywhere.
'I think England has a lot of hidden treasures Europeans haven't discovered yet. We all rush to London, Bath and so on, but it's very special treasures like this that come as such a nice surprise.
'It's the mixture of culture, heritage and gardens like this in the living landscape that makes this very special.
'Your challenge, in Britain, is to find the way to communicate with the right kind of market.'
John Gaudern, head of the British Tourist Authority in France, which has helped organise the tour, with BA and South West Tourism, said the main idea of the trip was to get the word out as fast as they could that people could get around despite the foot and mouth crisis.
'The real objective of this trip is to ensure our guests see for themselves what is really happening here, so they have the benefit of having seen the situation for themselves when they come to talk to their customers, and can give them the real picture.
'There's a lot of sensational coverage throughout the European media, which is truthful in its reports of the burning and so on, but it doesn't show that it is concentrated in certain small areas and visitors will probably see very little of it — people need to know that.'
Mr Gaudern said the reaction of the delegates had been very positive.
'Although it's fair to say they're on our side because they are losing customers too — it's in both their and our interest that they are given the real picture first-hand — that the countryside is largely free from fires and that they can get out and go where they like.
'Pubs on Dartmoor are open, 90 per cent of all attractions are open — they have to see for themselves.'
Mr Gaudern said the problem was the future: 'We've had very few cancellations from France, but forward bookings have been hit.'
Hugo White, chairman of the board of trustees at the Garden House, said: 'It's lovely to be visited by such a high-powered group, particularly David Quarmby, head of the British Tourism Authority and Malcolm Bell, chief executive of South West Tourism.
'It's really important for us. The Garden House has been on the edge of financial stability for many years. It's Murphy's Law — last year we decided to grasp the nettle and invest in a proper commercial marketing manager, then foot and mouth came along.
'We were really optimistic for this season, but we suffered a 50 per cent drop in income during March. Easter was average, but that has not been sustained. We are praying local people, where they can't walk on the moor, will walk around the garden instead. We are hoping, like many attractions, we will be kept open by loyal locals.'
Mr White said the initiative was likely to have its biggest impact next year, rather than this, and was optimistic it would bring an influx of overseas visitors.
'It does pay dividends,' he said.
The delegates were shown a short film to give them some idea of how the garden looked at different times of the year, before the enthusiastic head gardener, Keith Wiley, took them round the site.
Mr Wiley has pioneered a new, more natural look, to contrast with the formal garden.
Mr White said: 'It's a very simple idea — in nature you don't get the clever colour-coding that's typical in English gardens, you get carpets of flowers, a profusion of colours all jumbled up like in the Alps or South Africa.
'Keith is now creating that in his new area of garden, which is particularly attractive in the summer and especially sited as it is with Buckland Monachorum Church in the background.'
The group went onto the Horn of Plenty at Gulworthy for lunch, then spent the afternoon at the Eden Project before returning to London to meet Prime Minister Tony Blair. They also visited Dartmoor.