The proponent of the proposed $250 millon monorail project linking Queenstown and Te Anau is vowing the company will become Te Anau's biggest promoter.
Riverstone Holdings chief executive Bob Robertson, of Wanaka, believed the monorail, 16 years in the planning, would lift local tourism and the area's economy.
"I think Te Anau locals will probably think it might be negative for them because people are currently travelling through Te Anau."
One of the biggest criticisms of the Milford Dart Tunnel proposed last month was Te Anau would miss out on potential visitors, but Mr Robertson said his company would spend about $5 million a year promoting Te Anau and the "new visitors" would be stopping there for more than "just a coffee".
"We will spend more than anyone has before on selling the destination. We will be an investor locally. We would become the biggest sponsor."
He said the company had put more than $1 million into Wanaka's economy and he would like to do the same for Te Anau.
The monorail was part of Riverstone Holdings' visitor transport package, The Fiordland Link Experience, which would include a catamaran across Lake Wakatipu, an all-terrain ride on back-country roads and the 80kmh monorail trip.
The company had a project budget of $175 million to $200 million, with another $50 million for "long-term upgrades" such as transport facilities running into Te Anau.
If consent was granted, he expected a completion timeframe of within two years.
Mr Robertson hoped to establish a fund to help finance the project, with four domestic investors already expressing an interest in contributing.
"I know if I've got the right economic model... funding is not an issue."
It was not about shortening the trip from Queenstown to Te Anau, he said.
"We're not in a hurry. We're not promoting hurry. We are promoting [an] experience while still delivering a benefit of speed.
"We will get them there quicker and they will stay longer."
The initial idea came from Malaysia, which was where most of the rolling stock and electronics would be built, he said.
However, Te Anau's gain could be Kingston's loss, as travellers choosing the monorail would bypass State Highway 6.
Kingston Community Association chairwoman Annetta Dalziel said local businesses had already shown some concern.
"To me, it seems a terrible way [to travel]. Just whipping people here and there and not giving them the time to meet New Zealanders.
Te Anau Community Board chairman Alistair Jukes, opposed to the Milford Dart Tunnel, said yesterday the monorail was "not as bad".
"It's certainly got its merits. I'm not really in opposition to it."
Southland District Council mayor Frana Cardno said both the monorail and Milford Dart Tunnel were "all about getting to Milford faster".
"New Zealand tourism talks about quality tourism. Is this what we call quality tourism? "
The Department of Conservation had yesterday received 61 submissions for the the Milford Dart Tunnel with submissions closing in January.
Mr Jukes said the Te Anau Community Board would be submitting against the Milford Dart Tunnel.
Public submissions on the monorail will close in February.
