The forums are part of the Shaping Our Future programme, which was launched earlier this year as a way of giving Queenstown Lakes residents and ratepayers a voice in guiding future policymakers and decision-makers.
Topics covered to date are the district's economic future and events. Further forums are planned on issues such as health, culture, arts and heritage and food.
Forum facilitator Steve Henry said a clear message from Thursday's forums was that "resilience through diversity" was the best way to achieve economic success, by not being dependent on any one industry sector.
"A range of ideas towards that future were generated, such as salmon and dairy farming and creating infrastructure to enable clusters of businesses to flourish - such as mountain sports or education."
Ideas put forward were evaluated on whether they could lead to an agreed future for the community, whether they kept the community's options open and whether investment returns were evident.
Twelve organisations have signed up as Shaping Our Future supporters, including the Wanaka and Queenstown chambers of commerce, regional tourism organisations and the Queenstown Lakes District Council.
"Supporters agree to help create a uniting future description of the region's long-term success, which will be happening in the coming months, before having another forum to recommend actions to relevant decision-making agencies," Mr Henry said.
A video record of the ideas proposed will be on the shapingourfuture.org.nz website after two Queenstown forums scheduled for next Tuesday.
