Chinese tourists have spent more than a record $10 billion in Australia over the past year and their numbers now nearly surpass Kiwi visitors.
Results from the International Visitor Survey, released on Tuesday, show 1.33 million visitors from China travelled to Australia during the past 12 months to September.
That's just short of the 1.35 million who travel across the ditch from New Zealand.
While here, Chinese tourists spent $10.3 billion, out of the overall visitor spend of $41.2 billion.
It's the first time such Chinese spending has exceeded $10 billion.
International visitors aged 15 years and over grew by seven per cent, reaching more than eight million people, and they stayed a record 268 million nights.
With Chinese tourists travelling more, Trade Minister Steve Ciobo wants them to continue to choose to Australia.
"We want to see full planes flying from Shanghai to Sydney, Beijing to Brisbane and Guangzhou to Cairns," Mr Ciobo said.
"The more tourists we can get to Australia, the more business for our hotels, shops and restaurants which will create new local jobs."
