Big read: Whanganui's tourism success story in 2020 12 Mar, 2021 04:00 PM 6 minutes to read Whanganui had the strongest growth of any tourism market over 2020. What's driving it? Photo / File Whanganui had the strongest growth of any tourism market over 2020. What's driving it? Photo / File In some of the most testing of circumstances for tourism operators across the country, Whanganui's tourism sector has come out on top, showing the most substantial growth of any district over 2020. Ethan Griffiths finds out what's sparked it. It was revealed this month that the district's tourism spend grew 4 per cent over the 2020 calendar year - despite New Zealand admitting almost zero tourists through its border, as well as grappling with lockdown restrictions for almost six weeks between March and May.