Queensland has been voted the ‘Green Tourism Destination of the Year’ by more than 4.2 million readers of China’s Travel Weekly tourism trade publication.

Queensland Minister for Tourism, Jan Jarratt, said the award at 2011 China Travel & Meetings Industry Awards in Beijing recently was "a massive coup" for the state.

Queensland was chosen as one of the top three green tourism destinations in the world by the selection panel along with Norway and New Zealand before being voted into the number one spot by Travel Weekly China readers in an online poll.

Ms Jarratt said the award win could not have taken place within a more significant international market and was cause for optimistic forecasting.

“China is Queensland’s fourth largest and fastest growing international market with 197,000 Chinese visiting our state in the year ending March 2011, 29 percent more than the year prior,” Ms Jarratt said.

“The Chinese are also big spenders, outlaying $388 million on their trips to Queensland during the same period, a significant $62 million more than during the previous year.

“It’s vital that our tourism industry has the skills, products and experiences to make sure our Chinese friends have the best possible Queensland experience, and when they go home, they tell their friends and family that Queensland truly is where Australia shines.

“Winning this ‘Green Tourism Destination of the Year’ award will not only put Queensland front-of-mind with our current and potential Chinese trade partners, but hopefully also capture the attention of millions of Chinese holidaymakers.”