Canberra led the nation in 2016 for increased international visitor expenditure in a bumper year that saw 7.6 million visitors spend a record $39.1 billion across the country.

The ACT recorded 208,000 visitors (+7%) who spent $452 million. The 15 per cent extra they paid was Australia's highest gain.

Canberra also had the biggest gains for average trip expenditure (+7.7%) and average expenditure per night (+33.1%).

The big spend came despite reduced average stays (down from 26 nights to 21) and a 38.9 per cent plunge in backpacker nights, suggesting more well-heeled, high-yield visitors.

For those citing education as a reason for their Canberra stopover, total expenditure rose 22.7 per cent to $272 million. There was modest growth in the holiday market, family visits and business travel.

The impressive ACT figures include minimal impact from the introduction of international flights to Singapore and Wellington, which only began on September 21.

Federal tourism minister Steven Ciobo said spending by international visitors to Australia had now grown more than 35 per cent in three years.

The fastest growing markets were from Taiwan (up 26 per cent), Japan (24%), Korea (24%), China (17%) and the United States (16%).

Backpacker numbers rose eight per cent nationally but fell 4.4 per cent in Canberra.

The international visitor survey is available from Tourism Research Australia.