Qld tourism body welcomes visitor numbers

The head of Queensland's peak tourism body has welcomed the growth in international visitor numbers in 2016 and said they helped generate jobs.

Tourism Research Australia released its International Visitor Survey on Wednesday.

The data showed more than 2.5 million people visited the Sunshine State from overseas in 2016, up 10 per cent on the previous year.

The international market also injected $5.1 billion into the local economy.

Queensland Tourism Industry Council chief executive Daniel Gschwind said the growth in international visitor numbers both in Queensland and across Australia was impressive.

Mr Gschwind told AAP the bump in Queensland tourism had helped to make up for the losses felt in regional areas as a result of downturns in other sectors.

"All this income that flows into the state helps businesses across the state and generates jobs across the state," he said on Wednesday.

Mr Gschwind said the data showed visitors were coming from all over the world, including a variety of places in Asia, not just China.

"Japan has rebounded incredibly strongly," he said.

"Korea, Taiwan and Indonesia are all growing at double-digit rates.

"We have a very diversified portfolio, which bodes very well for the future."

However, Queensland's Liberal National Party opposition claims the state's tourism figures could be better.

Opposition frontbencher Scott Emerson said Queensland's visitor numbers were lower than both NSW and Victoria

Last year, those states managed to lure 3.8 million and 2.7 million visitors respectively.

But Queensland should be leading the nation in visitor numbers with attractions like the Great Barrier Reef, he said.

"With the low Australian dollar, we've had a season without cyclones, Queensland should be doing better," Mr Emerson said in Brisbane on Wednesday.