Sadly, I think the trail will become a $15 million white elephant worth virtually nothing in tourist dollars because it won't be sealed, won't be adequately maintained, will be shared with horses, has already achieved a high level of antagonism among local landholders, doesn't lead to really interesting tourist features, and doesn't have an adequate return transport service or easy access to transport from the destination. There's also a perfectly adequate highway, much of it with shoulders, that parellels the trail; if the cyclists aren't already heading into town, the trail is unlikely to bring them.
I don't know about that. The Kettle Valley/Trans Canada trail attracts many group tourists and day riders. Of course maybe you are right about your particular trail, the KVR/Columbia Western has some great views associated with it. You are concerned about HORSES?? ATV's I can understand but part of the TCT allows ATV's and though it was annoying it was still ok to ride with them. Horses are fine with me just a few dung piles to avoid occasionally, keeps you awake lol.
I agree though, tourist places want people with disposable income, ie. Retired people. Though, on the KVR I met quite a few older people that enjoyed riding parts of it. You don't meet too many people who ride for hundreds of KM's and spend lots of money, most of the longer distance riders I saw doing the whole thing were solo men.
I think though your trail could attract tour companies, for instance the KVR has a tour company from Germany that runs the entire thing once a month 20 or so people a time, and there are quite a few local tour companies that run supported tours.
You will see many, many more people in my area touring on a rail trail than you will on a highway, as people find it feels more safe.