The 10% drop in the number of cyclists from 17,036 to 15,407 was "expected'' Alps 2 Ocean joint committee chairman Mike Neilson said.
The number of cyclists using the trail for multi-day trips was up 19% to 7964, and there were signs the trail was being used increasingly by international visitors, Mr Neilson, who also owns and operates Lake Ohau Lodge, said.
"Once you've done the cycle trail you don't come back, they reckon, for another 25 years,'' Mr Neilson said. "You only do it once. You don't go and ride the cycle trail every year. Obviously, we would run out of locals, New Zealanders, riding it and for it to be sustainable we have to tap into the international market.
"Our market is growing through a maturing stage and it's moving into the sustainable stage where we are getting lots more people from overseas.''
While the 2014-15 financial year showed that 65% of guests at Lake Ohau were "free independent travellers'' and 35% booked through agents and tour operators, this year the ratio had evened out to 50/50.
Alps 2 Ocean guest nights at Lake Ohau Lodge rose by 19% to about 2000, making up about 16% of the lodge's summer business in just the trail's third year.
And the total guest nights at Lake Ohau for the summer rose by 22%.
"Yes, we get direct business from it, but we're also noticing, because it's given us a higher profile in the marketplace. I reckon that [22%] have been brought out by the profile we get from Alps 2 Ocean.''
Tourism Waitaki general manager Jason Gaskill said the cycle trail was "a key component to the long-term identity of our region''.
And while it was "very difficult'' to quantify the effect the 301km cycle trail was having on the district, he said he believed it played a large role in bringing North Otago to international travellers' attention.
"If anything, it will become more and more prominent as the trail continues to develop and as commercial activities along the trail continue develop,'' he said.
Statistics New Zealand's Commercial Accommodation Monitor for Waitaki for March, released on May 11, showed Waitaki's continuing steady growth.
Year-on-year, to the end of March, total guest nights in Waitaki rose 8.4% to 416, 202. And for the year, international guest nights rose 15.5% to 141,911.
Mr Gaskill said the Government's announcement on Sunday of $13million towards a $26.3million expansion was more positive news for the Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail, and the district.
He said the relationship between the cycle trails had always been "complementary'' rather than ``competitive''.
"Anything any other trails do to raise their profile, expand their networks or improve their experiences longer term we believe will be good for the network as a whole.
"If they [visitors] are cyclists and they appreciate what the New Zealand cycle network has to offer, they'll be back. And they'll be back to try new trails.''
