Dunedin historian Dr Jim Ng and tourism management consultant Ray Grubb presented Otago Forward with their vision of a trail stretching from Queenstown to Dunedin, via State Highway 8, "anchored" at either end by the Arrowtown Chinese village and the newly-opened Chinese garden in Dunedin.
In between, visitors could take in the Kawarau Gorge's mining centre and the proposed re-creation of the Lawrence Chinese Camp.
Otago Forward members, made up of the region's mayors and business leaders, seemed impressed by what they heard and by the potential economic boost the huge untapped Chinese tourism market offered.
While it made no decision to fund a scoping report, it appears likely the group will help the two men find the estimated $35,000 to $45,000 they need to prepare a documenton the trail's feasibility.
Group chairman and Queenstown Lakes Mayor Clive Geddes said the region now had "a champion" to start exploring all the various layers of Otago's heritage.
The main trail attractions would bring out hundreds of thousands of Chinese while other known sites, dotted along the state highway, including cemeteries, would also attract plenty of interest, Dr Ng said.
In his presentation, Mr Grubb said the trail was a great opportunity fill a dearth of products and attractions for Chinese visitors to this country, and to "open up" Otago like never before.
A feasibility study could take up to eight months.
The presentation seemed to win over the group, meeting in Balclutha.
