An increase in visitors to Wanganui has been termed "really encouraging" by Visit Whanganui's chairman and could signal a shifting trend.
The July figures from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) show visitor nights that month were 11 per cent ahead of the same month last year. And domestic traveller guest nights lifted by the same amount.
Dr Eric Dorfman, chairman of Visit Whanganui, said he was heartened to see the change.
"People in Wanganui are increasingly excellent proponents of their city and it's encouraging to see how the Wanganui breadth of experiences and attractions are beginning to reap rewards and, we hope, create the desire to return," Dr Dorfman said.
Lyn Cheyne, promotion and marketing manager, said with those domestic numbers lifting, international visitor stays were up 10 per cent.