Yesterday, a group of tourism industry representatives met in Wodonga to discuss marketing opportunities.

Among those involved in the venture are Destination Albury-Wodonga, the RACV, NRMA, Tourism Victoria and Tourism NSW.

The initiative will see more of a focus on tourism along the Hume Highway and the coastal routes between the two capitals.

The chairman of the Sydney Melbourne Touring Industry, Nick Elliott, said the formal alliance would “be of significant benefit to communities within the corridor”.

“For the first time the alliance will allow the roll-out of co-ordinated programs to stimulate more awareness and visitation through inland and coastal routes,” he said.

Among the Border touring routes involved in the alliance are the Ned Kelly touring route and the Snowy Valley Way.

Tourism consultant Colin Bransgrove said the market comprising people who stayed in Melbourne or Sydney and a regional destination was valued at $620 million “and that’s without any marketing”.

Mr Bransgrove said more co-operation between states on tourism was important and already had happened with some success in north Queensland, the Northern Territory and northern Western Australia.

He said there was a need for similar co-operation between all eastern states.

Mr Bransgrove went on to say that the alliance would be submitting an application for Federal Government funding of $500,000 to develop a new marketing campaign.

He said given there were 10 million people living in Sydney, Melbourne and the region in-between the application should be considered favourably.

Destination Albury Wodonga general manager Steve Cooper said the alliance would allow the Border region to tap into new promotions such as those delivered through motoring clubs.

“Already the Albury-Wodonga region is benefiting from this new partnership with publicity through the NRMA website and magazine,” Mr Cooper said.