Rugby New Zealand 2011 chief executive Martin Snedden told Trenz media delegates in Queenstown yesterday 85,000 international visitors were expected for the world's third-largest sporting event.
A total of 789,000 of 1.35 million tickets have been sold so far.
Mr Snedden said almost half of all surveyed ticket-holders say they intend to arrive in New Zealand before the opening match.
The trip to New Zealand will be a first for 44% of visitors surveyed; their average length of stay was expected to be 23 nights.
They were expected to explore all corners of the country between the 48 matches, lured by the 1000 events which form the coinciding Real New Zealand Festival, in September and October.
Free and independent travellers (FITs) were expected to account for 55,000 visitors, according to ticket sales and a survey.
Ticket sales for the 48 matches were on track and the pre-earthquake target of 919,000 tickets sold was "challenging, but still achievable", Mr Snedden said.
Tickets will again become available to the public to buy on July 4.
He said Forsyth Barr Stadium, in Dunedin, had a "special atmosphere" and while there had been "nervousness" about grass growing sufficiently under a roofed stadium a year ago, there was no nervousness now.
"We've got a beautiful brand new stadium in Dunedin, which is only a few weeks away [from opening]."
The country would be "significantly spotlighted" by the 2480 representatives of the media - 1650 from 55 countries - during the cup, Mr Snedden said.
The statistics
Ticket sales: 789,000 of 1.35 million.
Ticket revenue: $169 million, with a target of $268 million.
Expected international visitors: 85,000.
