"That is a critical link for us for the growth of tourism infrastructure," she said.
"We've got an agreement with the Air New Zealand chief executive that he would work with Rotorua on the business case. The study helped re-enforce to these ministers that this has potential for us."
It found the region had a solid base to build on, including its central location and infrastructure, sustainable natural resources, access to productive land, significant untapped Maori asset base and an "enviable range of economic and industry strategies and projects" already in place.
However, it said the area had lagged behind other regions and a lack of flights - especially a direct Rotorua to Queenstown link - was an issue not just for tourism but also for wider business and population growth.
It has suggested revisiting the idea of a centrally located regional airport with an updated report and criteria which sets out when investment would be commercially viable.
Rotorua MP Todd McClay said the study could become the cornerstone of future economic development in Rotorua.
"It identifies many of the challenges that we have faced as a region and is optimistic about the future opportunities for Rotorua - as an important part of the Bay of Plenty."
Establishing Rotorua as a globally recognised destination for health and wellness would require industry investment in new facilities and higher standards of accommodations and services.
If it managed to achieve the 3-5 per cent per annum increase in visitor spend being forecast, then it would create 990 new jobs in the Bay of Plenty in the next five years.
It also suggested Rotorua join with the various tourism organisations in the Bay to develop a co-ordinated regional tourism strategy to attract the high number of free independent travellers.
Other ideas included increasing productivity of Maori land - both across forestry and agriculture - processing more logs, improving farm productivity and looking into large-scale sheep and goat dairy farming.
The development of an mussel farm, hatchery and processing plant at Opotiki, while expensive, could have a large economic impact, create employment and have a "transformational impact" on the Opotiki district, the study found.
The possibility of trout farming using geothermal waters in Taupo should also be looked into further, although it would require a law change to allow commercial trout farming.
Bay of Connections chairman Doug Leeder said the region had the tools and opportunities it needed for growth, and the next step involved working with key players across the region to develop an action plan.
"The opportunities posed by the study are ours to grasp and it is absolutely critical that we work together to achieve them."
However Labour's Regional Development spokesman David Cunliffe called the study Government spin - "lots of talk but little action".
"This is a region that desperately needs to develop the downstream processing of its timber. Instead it's laying off mill workers and exporting its raw logs and jobs offshore," he said.
"The fact is that regional growth is not happening in some areas of New Zealand. They are going backwards."
Read the report in full below.
