Rotorua tourism operators will speak about how they plan to rebuild their industry post-Covid-19 at an event hosted by Evolve Rotorua tomorrow evening.

Evolve Rotorua spokesperson Ben Sandford says pre-Covid-19, tourism was Rotorua's largest employer and contributed $825 million annually to the local GDP, with the Rotorua Lakes Council aiming for $1 billion by 2030.

"Now with New Zealand borders closed to international tourists, we need to know how will we build back."

Ben says some of Rotorua's tourism heavyweights have been invited to speak at the event including owner, CEO and founder of Mitai Maori Village, Wetini Mitai-Ngatai, head of International Development at Zorb Rotorua, Melissa Craig, Mountain Jade general manager Sam Hulton and Rotorua Economic Development executive manager Tracey Goddall.

Ben Sandford.

"We hold bi-monthly drinks meetings with speakers and try to have them about issues affecting Rotorua and about how we can improve things around town.

"We want to know what these people are doing about getting through this or changing what they are doing - is this all being done industry-wide or is it being done in an ad hoc basis?"

Ben says no-one can predict when international tourism will return to New Zealand and says the speakers will share their strategies for attracting domestic tourists to Rotorua and what measures they have put in place to survive the tourism downturn.

"Rebuilding Tourism in Rotorua post-Covid-19" is being held at Level 13 Theme Rooms and Costume Hire, 1141 Eruera St, from 5.30pm. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Evolve Rotorua is an advocacy group whose aim is to champion progressive social and economic projects and policies for an inclusive and sustainable Rotorua. You can find them at www.evolverotorua.co.nz, or on Facebook.