New figures from Tourism Victoria show there were more than 50,000 international overnight visitors to the Grampians National Park between April last year and March this year.

This was up from 39,200 the previous year.

Grampians Tourism chief executive Will Flamsteed said international tourists made up about 10 per cent of all visitors.

“While it’s a small amount, it has a bigger effect than domestic visitors,” he said.

“It’s great to see a growth in numbers and we’ve put in a lot of work into marketing the Grampians internationally.

“We are getting more exposure overseas now and the results are showing.”

Mr Flamsteed said there had been an increase in tourists from China and south-east Asia.

“Our traditional international market is the UK, Europe and North America, but walking holidays are becoming more population in places such as Korea,” he said.

Mr Flamsteed said international visitors were often accessing the Grampians from the Great Ocean Road. 

Northern Grampians economic and community growth manager Debbie Bach said tourism generated $84.1 million for the shire each year.

“In Northern Grampians Shire, 9.6 per cent people are employed in the tourism sector,” she said.

Mrs Bach said the shire saw an increase in visitors at Easter this year.

“Easter is particularly vital to the economy, not only in Stawell but more broadly across the region,” she said.

“When compared with 2015, Halls Gap enjoyed a significant increase in visitors during Easter this year.

“Coinciding with school holidays, each of the four days were up on the previous year, particularly Easter Sunday. “

Mrs Bach said getting people to the region was just the first step. “Encouraging visitors to stay longer or to return will provide opportunities to further showcase the area,” she said.

Wimmera Mallee Tourism chairwoman and Yarriambiack councillor Helen Ballentine said other parts of the region were also seeing an increase in overseas tourism.

“Up at Sea Lake, there have been lots of Chinese tourists coming to see Lake Tyrrell,” she said.

Cr Ballantine said communities needed to be ready to deal with unexpected tourism.

“At Yarriambiack Shire, we do a reasonably good job to keep on top of tourism,” she said.

She said however, the council was caught on the back foot by the massive increase in tourism to Brim after the town’s silos were painted.