CHINESE visitors splashed out an incredible $21 million a day while holidaying in Australia in the year to   September, for a total spend of $7.7 billion. 
The figure surpassed -expectations, with Tourism Australia originally forecasting Chinese spending would reach $7.4 billion in 2020.
The expenditure was just one positive to emerge from the latest International Visitor Survey produced by Tourism Research Australia.
The quarterly snapshot of overseas visitors also showed double-digit growth in tourists from India, the US, Hong Kong and Singapore, and an overall rise in spending of 13 per cent to $34 billion for the year to   September.
The weaker currency and "Bindi factor" are thought to be helping to lure more Americans Down Under following Sunshine Coast teenager Bindi Irwin's success in the US season of Dancing With The Stars.
While the Great Barrier Reef was the major drawcard for Japanese visitors.BUSINESS DAILY PAGE 58