The border's visitor economy is set to get a sports-powered boost this summer with the return of major tournaments operating unencumbered for the first time since 2019.
The action kicks off on January 5 with the opening of the five-day Australian Grass Court Championships at the Wodonga Tennis Centre.
Attracting the cream of Australia's tennis juniors, the championships will feature 128 under-12 and under-14 players with families and officials to increase visitor numbers to about 500 people.
It will be the first time the championships will be played here since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, and according to Wodonga Council's Manager Sport and Recreation, Wodonga is once again ready to host the stars of the future.
"Our facilities are among the best in Australia - as is groundskeeper Shayne Reid, a turf consultant with Tennis Australia, who works all around the country, and Wimbledon - and the championships are a pathway to elite tennis so we're very excited to welcome back some of the best young tennis players in Australia," she said.
"Previous winners of the championships have included Ash Barty, Nick Kyrgios and Alex de Minaur so we're proud to host the next generation of rising stars here in Wodonga."
In another important boost to Albury Wodonga's sporting and tourism landscape, hundreds of young basketballers and their families will arrive in the region from January 17 for the Australian Country Junior Basketball Cup.
The event has been affected by Covid and bushfires in recent years but now that the field is clear, organisers and hosts are looking forward to showcasing the talents of players from around Australia and New Zealand over five days of action.
Tourism Officer with Visit Albury Wodonga, Suzy Watson, said the influx of visitors comes at a perfect time for local tourism operators.
"We've prepared packages of activities for families to do while they're visiting and they'll be spending money at cafes and attractions - and hopefully they'll return home with stories of the great time they had here, helping to bring return visitation to our region," she said.
"As an extra drawcard, Lake Hume is full at a time when flooding continues to affect rivers further downstream. Visitors will find it easy to access the water from grassy banks to enjoy a swim or picnic."
The financial impact of the tennis and basketball will be welcomed by local businesses looking to continue their recovery in the wake of Covid.
"The Australian Junior Country Cup event has traditionally been a leading event contributor to the visitor economy, adding $5.2 million to the sector in 2019, prior to Covid, and we're all looking forward to seeing a similar or even better result this year," Ms Watson said.
That growth will be enhanced by other major events in January - including round three of the Australian Speedway Senior Solo Championship at Diamond Park on January 7, the Gardenesque festival in Albury on January 28 and 29, and Wodonga's CoCreate Arts and Culture event at The Cube Courtyard on January 28.
Events this month are expected to attract more than 15,000 people, bringing valuable economic activity and adding new layers to our sporting and cultural landscape.
