Chinese tourists spending billions in Aust

Chinese are choosing to holiday in Australia in growing numbers, and now account for about $1 in every $5 spent by international visitors.

Figures released on Wednesday also showed the total spend by international visitors had grown by 10 per cent over the past year, with a record $33.4 billion pumped into local economies, making it the strongest growth since the period that included the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.

The figures, from Tourism Research Australia, showed international visitor numbers increased seven per cent to a new high of 6.6 million, driven by leisure travel.

China visitor numbers increased by 22 per cent (864,000), and accounted for about $1 in every $5 spent by international visitors, the figures show.

Visitors from the US were up nine per cent while the numbers coming from the United Kingdom (629,000) and Japan (297,000) remained steady.

Trade Minister Andrew Robb said there was scope for even greater growth in the tourism sector.

"Tourism can be our fastest growing sector this decade if we continue to leverage our clean, green and safe brand to position ourselves as the number one, long-haul destination in Asia," he said.

"With China now accounting for one in every five dollars spent by international visitors, it is clear that China is vital to the sustained growth of our tourism sector."