Tourists also pumped $751 million into the twin-cities’ economy last year, as revealed in the 2014 inaugural joint tourism report between Wodonga and Albury councils.

Wodonga mayor Rodney Wangman said the report supported the push for the recently unveiled Albury-Wodonga destination brand.

Cr Wangman said the brand aimed to celebrate a range of experiences across outdoor and urban cultures in one unique destination, side by side.

“This report plays a crucial role in understanding the economic benefit of tourism to Albury-Wodonga, as well as allowing us to understand the type of visitors and their purpose for visiting our cities,” he said.

President of the Albury-Wodonga Motel Social Club and Stagecoach Motel owner Damien Robinson told The Border Mail credit had to go to both councils for their joint work towards taking on a more active role in tourism and looking at joint initiatives.

“There’s the joint official visitor’s guide and a new motel booking site is on its way,” he said.

“There have also been wonderful developments with the Bonegilla Migrant Centre and the Ettamogah Pub is open again.”

Mr Robinson said visitor numbers increased during the first half of this year and last year because of events like the Ulysses Motorcycle Club annual meeting in Wodonga.

“Events like this make a difference,” he said.

“They fill motel rooms and visitors shop locally.

“If there’s one thing we are good at as a twin city, it’s promoting the area as an event city.

“A lot of people come here and branch out to areas like the snow, Beechworth and wineries.”

Mr Robinson said a five-year high in tourist numbers was just about unheard of.

“You look at all the doom and gloom with the economy at the moment and think we have to be doing something right,” he said.

The report also showed 15,365 international visitors were recorded in 2014 and Albury-Wodonga also attracted 1.15 million day visitors during the same year.

Albury mayor Kevin Mack said the data was representative of the Border’s strong tourism offerings as a twin city and an encouraging indicator for the future.

“This knowledge not only helps us to direct future strategy, but it also assists potential investors to have a greater understanding of the market demand for tourism in our region,” he said.