There was an estimated 7.7 per cent drop in international day visitors to the Goldfields, including Ballarat, in the 12 months from September last year to September, 2017.

However it was matched by a huge jump in overnight stays, which for the Ballarat region, rose 13.8 per cent in the same period.

The statistics were part of the International Visitors Survey. It showed a change in tourist behaviour, as more people stayed overnight and spent more cash.

Chinese visitors have led boom with the most visitors, spending more than double any other nationality visiting the state.

The challenge was attracting these visitors to Ballarat, as Chinese tourists start to travel independently, instead of with organised groups.

Two thirds of the state’s tourists visited the Great Ocean Road, which increased its overnight visitation by 10.8 per cent.

Ballarat attracted nine per cent of visitors, but also benefited from the Great Southern Touring Route’s growth, which includes the Great Ocean Road and the Grampians.

Route chairman Roger Grant said the focus on higher spends per person, rather than greater visitor numbers, was paying off for Ballarat and the Grampians.

“There may be a decline in day trips in some parts, but for the same period we have had a nearly 19 per cent increase in visitor nights across the whole southern touring group,” he said.

“Not only did we get a five per cent increase in visitors, they actually stayed longer, which is really important.

“It means a win for the restaurants, accommodation providers and often an increase in the attractions attended.”

The International Visitor Survey also showed Chinese tourists were the biggest spenders of any nationality.

They injected $10 million into the state’s economy between January and September of this year. 

In comparison visitors from the United States were second for spending, parting with $3.745 million.

The statistics were not as positive for Ballarat’s biggest tourism drawcard, Sovereign Hill, which recorded a 7.7 per cent drop visitor numbers.

However Sovereign Hill chief executive Jeremy Johnson said the data should be taken carefully, because it was collected from tourists existing the country, as they boarded a plane.

“Sovereign Hill had near-record visitation last year and 25 per cent of that was international visitations,” he said.

“There were almost three quarters of a million ticketed visitors.”

Mr Johnson said there were some challenges for the historic site, such as shifting its focus from the shrinking group travel market among Chinese tourists.

“Sovereign Hill has been very strong in the group market, which is dropping, at the independent market is rising,” he said.

“They are the ones we might have some difficulty in marketing to, because you speak to them differently.

“You have to take these statistics with a grain of salt.”