Provisional numbers released by the Bureau of Statistics indicate that visitor arrivals for March totaled 51,047.8.

This is an increase of 8.3% compared to the year earlier.

Australia and New Zealand continued to provide the largest number of visitors in March.

There were also more visitors from the US, China and UK.

However, decreases were recorded in visitors from Europe and Canada.

77% of the visitors came on a holiday while about six per cent came to visit relatives or friends.