New Zealand Cycleway team project manager John Dunn said the organisation's booth at Trenz had been "very busy", with buyers from Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, Denmark Germany, Holland, Canada and Australia expressing interest in bringing groups to New Zealand on cycling packages.
"The common theme is that many people are keen to do one-day rides which are not too difficult," Mr Dunn said.
"This is exactly what Queenstown can provide.
"The resort is the hub with many options for one-day rides.
"We always knew this would be the strength of the Queenstown trail." He said the 90km trail - due to open in September 2012 - would also allow more residents to use bikes for commuting.
"People will easily be able to bike from Arrowtown to Queenstown in just over an hour, and for residents in places like Lake Hayes Estate the trail will provide very convenient access," Mr Dunn said.
The Queenstown trail will weave its way through the Queenstown Events Centre, with construction of the section beside Joe O'Connell Dr due for completion this month.
A 2.5m wide asphalt and compacted gravel track skirting the sports fields will link the existing trail to Arrowtown to the northeast with the Frankton Golf Course, and on to Kelvin Heights and Jacks Point to the south.
Queenstown Trails Trust chief executive Kaye Parker is "delighted" with the progress.
"I never grow tired of seeing the pieces of the puzzle slot together - taking us another step closer to the completion of what we think will become a national treasure for Kiwis and tourists to enjoy for many years to come.
"This section of the trail will be especially useful for commuting," she said.
Queenstown Lakes District Council community services general manager Paul Wilson said tenders closed yesterday for two major suspension bridges - a 65m span at Whitechapel and an 80m span at the lower Arrow Gorge - as well as two smaller wooden bridges at Hayes Creek and Arrow River.
He expected the link between Manse Rd and Arrowtown's former Chinese settlement to be completed within a week.
A further $500,000 of community funds will be raised to complete the project.
