Ed Jackson
(Australian Associated Press)

International tourists spent more than $40 billion in Australia last year, with a quarter of that amount coming from visitors from China.

Latest figures from a federal government International Visitors’ Survey show 8.1 million overseas visitors spent a record $41.3 billion for the year ending December 2017.

That figure is a six per cent increase on 2016 and represents an additional $2.2 billion to the economy.

Chinese visitors alone spent $10.4 billion, while spending from US tourists was up three per cent to $3.8 billion.

Federal Tourism Minister Steve Ciobo said the launch of Tourism Australia’s “Dundee” campaign targeting the US market had proven a successful move.

“Despite only launching last month, feedback from the industry has been overwhelmingly positive and reports of an uplift in booking enquiries and leads,” Mr Ciobo said.

“Once again Dundee is delivering again for Australia and driving tourists Down Under.”

Tasmania’s 31 per cent growth in international spending was the best of any individual state, with Western Australia the only state or territory not to record a growth in spending over the past year.

“This record run is great for the country,” federal Tourism Minister Steve Ciobo said.

“The more tourists that visit, and the more they spend, the better for our economy and jobs.”

HEY BIG SPENDERS – WHERE AND HOW OVERSEAS TOURISTS ARE SPENDING THEIR MONEY IN AUSTRALIA

* In 2017 8.1 million overseas tourists spent $41.3 billion – a six per cent increase on 2016.

* Tasmania recorded a 31 per cent growth in spend – the best of any Australian state or territory.

* Western Australia was the only state or territory to witness a decline in spending, with the total down by five per cent to $2.3 billion.

* Visitors from China spent $10.4 billion – up 14 per cent on last year.

* US tourists spent $3.8 billion, a figure boosted by Tourism Australia’s “Dundee” campaign.

WHERE THEY WENT

* 842,000 visitors toured the Great Barrier Reef

* 3m visited the Sydney Opera House

* 2.7m visited the Sydney Harbour Bridge

* 990,000 drove the Great Ocean Road

* 192,000 visited Uluru

(Source: International Visitor Survey, Tourism Research Australia)