Tourism spending drop for Whanganui and Ruapehu during April

April tourism spending was affected by Anzac Day falling on a Wednesday this year.

The timing of public holidays is largely responsible for a dip in tourism spending in Whanganui and Ruapehu during April, according to their respective regional tourism organisations.

In the latest monthly regional tourism estimates released by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), spending in Ruapehu was down 11 per cent on April 2017 at $11 million and down 9 per cent in Whanganui, also at $11m.

Visit Ruapehu general manager Jo Kennedy and Whanganui & Partners destination marketing lead Paul Chaplow said the obvious difference was where the public holidays fell.

"April was softer this year due to the alignment of Anzac Day being midweek, coupled with having Easter split over both March and April this year versus all of Easter falling into April in 2017," Kennedy said.

"We're looking at a wash-up of March and April together, which is a nett of +5 per cent."

For the year ending April 2018, spending in Ruapehu was up 8 per cent on the previous year.

Chaplow said Anzac Day being on a Wednesday this year had an impact.

"Any other day of the week and you can take one day's leave to have a four-day weekend, but Wednesdays you have to take two days off."

For the year ending April 2018, spending was up 2 per cent for Whanganui.