Canberra (file photo)

CANBERRA, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- Chinese tourists accounted for almost a quarter of all spending in Australia by overseas visitors in 2016/17, according to Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Steve Ciobo.

On Wednesday, Ciobo released details of the 2017 International Visitor Survey, which said international tourists spent a record 40.6 billion Australian dollars (34.5 billion U.S. dollars) in Australia last financial year.

The minister said the "stellar result" came on the back of record spending by Chinese tourists, who kicked in almost a quarter of the overall spend.

"International visitors spent a record 40.6 billion Australian dollars in the year to June 2017, an increase of 7 percent on the previous year," Ciobo said.

"Chinese tourists continue to have the biggest impact on our economy with 1.2 million visitors spending 9.8 billion Australian dollars (7.85 billion U.S. dollars). Both are increases of 10 percent. This growth comes during the China-Australia Year of Tourism."

Ciobo added that a weaker Australian dollar had also contributed in a record rise in expenditure from tourists from the United States.

"Along with the Chinese, Americans are also visiting Australia in record numbers. Australia welcomed a record 706,000 tourists from the United States, a 14-percent increase, and they spent 3.8 billion Australian dollars (3.05 billion U.S. dollars), an increase of 4 percent," the minister said.