About 2000 people have descended on the region for the Margaret Court Cup and Victorian Grasscourt Tennis Championships as well as the Australian Country Junior Basketball Cup.

It has driven a tourism boom on both sides of the Border with motels, restaurants and retail outlets feeling the full benefit.

About 1300 players have taken part in the events and the number of visitors contributing to the $4 million spend grows to about 2000 when their families and friends are included.

The Australian Country Junior Basketball Cup alone is estimated to contribute at least $2 million.

Teams travel from New Zealand and Western Australia to compete with many families treating it as an opportunity for a summer holiday, with some spending more than $5000.

The tennis events attract players and teams from the Pacific Islands and all parts of Australia.

Albury Mayor Henk van de Ven said events tourism, of which sport made up a major proportion, was worth more than $30 million a year to the Border economy.

“Carnivals such as the Junior Country Cup and Margaret Court Cup are generally more lucrative than one-off blockbusters such as AFL or NRL because of the accompanying families and friends of participants,” Cr van de Ven said.

“These events run for multiple days so people stay longer and spend more, which creates an enormous knock-on effect for hospitality, retail and other service providers.”

Wodonga Mayor Anna Speedie said the sporting events provided a vital economic boost for not only the city, but the region.

“Many families involved in these sports tournaments are also seeking activities and half-day trips for those times in between games so it's a great boost for our tourism facilities and many accommodation providers are full,” Cr Speedie said.

President of the Albury-Wodonga Motel Social Club and Stagecoach Motel owner Damien Robinson said the Border’s 42 hotels and motels enjoyed a spike in January from the sporting tournaments.

The O’Connell family, from Taranaki in New Zealand, stayed at the Albury Paddlesteamer Motor Inn for their fourth trip to the Border for the Australian Country Junior Basketball Cup, where Matthew, 16, Emma, 14, and Caitlin, 13, all competed.

“We absolutely love it here,” mother Gill O’Connell said.

“The Murray River is magnificent, there’s lots of shopping and I love the hot weather, too.”