Nothing beats Queensland for a growing number of international holiday-makers who are driving a massive tourism revival in the Sunshine State.

Queensland has recorded its biggest growth in visitors since the global financial crisis, with new figures showing almost one in every two international visitors book time in the state.

Tropical North Queensland is re-emerging as a must-see destination with 644,000 international holiday-makers visiting in the year to June, a spike of 17 per cent.

Tourism Queensland chairman Stephen Gregg told the Courier-Mail that Cairns had made a stunning comeback after years in a slump.

Direct seasonal flights to China, Japan and New Zealand had helped, he said.

Queensland as a whole recorded a six per cent increase.

Domestic travel is also up right around Australia.

Tourism Australia managing director Andrew McEvoy says Australians are taking about nine times more trips in their home country than they are overseas.

Domestic travel and growth in the Asian market are the main drivers for tourism growth across Australia.

Research presented at a major tourism conference on Tuesday, showed the Australian tourism industry is now worth $80 billion and is on track to be worth at least $115 billion by 2020.