Chinese top list of overseas tourists

The Australian tourism industry is thriving thanks to the growth in Chinese tourist numbers, up more than 13 per cent over the year.

Chinese visitors to Australia have outnumbered Kiwis for the first time.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported on Wednesday there were 1.39 million Chinese visitors in the year ending February 2018, an increase of 13.2 per cent.

"The record-breaking $10.4 billion that Chinese tourists spent across our economy in the year ending December 2017 was key to tourism businesses being able to grow, thrive, and take on more Aussie workers," federal Tourism Minister Steve Ciobo told AAP.