Half-a-million more passengers passed through Brisbane Airport in 2016-17 than in the previous financial year, with almost all that growth occurring at the international terminal.

The new figures came as Gold Coast Airport predicted an almost 160 per cent increase in passenger numbers over the next 20 years.

In the year to July, Brisbane Airport recorded 22.87 million passenger movements, 17.24 million of whom were domestic and 5.63 million international.

That was up about 1.8 per cent from 22.47 million passengers in 2015-16 (5.27 million international and 17.2 domestic).

Queensland Tourism Industry Council chief executive Daniel Gschwind said the rise of international tourism added millions to the state's economy.

"The figures are certainly encouraging," he said.

"We know that Brisbane is still the major gateway into the state and if Brisbane Airport does well, the state does well."

As for the apparent plateau in the domestic market, Mr Gschwind said the introduction of more routes between interstate markets and regional airports, such as the Sunshine Coast, Mackay and Toowoomba, may have resulted in fewer people transiting through Brisbane.

"It may be that the leisure market is going straight to the place they want to be," he said.

Gold Coast Airport will service 16.6 million passengers a year, or about three-quarters of Brisbane Airport's current turnover, by 2037, according to the border airport's newly approved master plan.

Of those passengers, 3.1 million were expected to be arriving from, or departing to, international destinations.

Federal Transport and Infrastructure Minister Darren Chester signed off on the Gold Coast Airport masterplan this week, in what airport chief operating officer Marion Charlton said was an "important stepping stone" in the airport's growth.

"The masterplan provides a guide to the development of airport facilities, infrastructure and land uses to meet the future requirements of the aviation industry and the communities we serve for the next 20 years," she said.

"It is particularly focused on growth in new aviation infrastructure and commercial facilities over the next five years, including the continued expansion of the terminal and additional aircraft parking stands."

Ms Charlton said the masterplan had taken into account the future introduction of both heavy and light rail public transport links.

"Whilst this is a medium to long term prospect, planning has occurred to ensure that future stations are highly accessible within the terminal precinct," she said.

"The masterplan also has provision for a high-quality hotel development.

"In line with our previous masterplans, we will continue to commit to preserving approximately 25 per cent of the airport lease area for conservation purposes through the Cobaki environment precinct."

With the completion of its parallel runway in 2020, Brisbane Airport has forecast 48.7 million passenger movements by 2033-34.