Chinese tourist will become increasingly common sights at Australia's major attractions, with the number of visitors from those countries expected to skyrocket over the next decade.

Projections from the Tourism Forecasting Committee show 900,000 tourists a year will be arriving from China in 2018, up from 356,000 last year.

Tourism experts believe Australia is in a good position to capture travellers from China as those countries become wealthier, more middle-class and more westernised.

Last year, the top five origins for visitors to Australia were New Zealand, the UK, Japan, the US and China.

Tourism Forecasting Committee chairman Bernard Salt said Australia was an attractive option for China market. "As they become more like us they will also develop an urge to travel." he said, "We are well-positioned as a safe, western, friendly nation to capture that market."

Mr Salt said growing business ties were often a catalyst for increased tourism.

"The more our economies mesh and merge the more people get familiar with a country and the more businessmen are likely to come back with their families.” he said.

Tourism Australia's executive general manager for the eastern hemisphere Richard Beere said Australia was the first western nation to receive approved destination status from China 10 years ago and the market had been developing ever since.