Our hospitality sector says it's helping power the economy, after a tricky few years

Research by Hospitality NZ, shows the sector contributes five-percent of GDP through sales, and more two-percent directly, making it one of the country's largest industries.

It directly employed 193-thousand people for the year to March, accounting for 6.7-percent of all jobs.

Hospitality NZ spokesperson Sam MacKinnon, says they're approaching the next few years with cautious optimism.

He says there's been a number of headwinds around international confidence which has flowed through into tourism.