And a $120,000 state government grant will help move the city toward the goal.

Greater Port Macquarie Tourism president Janette Hyde said recent upgrades to Port Macquarie venues were integral to the new push.

"It is a really exciting to see Port Macquarie developing more business tourism for our local government area," Mrs Hyde said.

"All our major clubs and venues have undertaken recent renovations and are very capable of hosting major conferencing events. So we now have the infrastructure to support conferencing.

"We are really getting some traction now," she said.

Mrs Hyde said Port Macquarie-Hastings had not secured this type of business tourism in previous years. But that is about to change.

"We haven't been proactive in this area," she added.

Member for Port Macquarie, Leslie Williams, announced the funding on Thursday May 10.

She said the funding would see three conferences being held in Port Macquarie.

The funding was made under the state government's Regional Conferencing Development Grants Program, which is part of the $6 million NSW Regional Conferencing Strategy and Action Plan.

Mrs Williams said the funding provides investment into the regional visitor economy.

“I am delighted that Port Macquarie is fast becoming the conference capital of regional NSW," she said. "The three conferences will bring hundreds of people and attract more business event visitors to the Hastings.

“Staging business events are a great way to not only boost overnight visitation but also encourage more visitors to experience everything that’s on offer, from our fantastic food and wine scene, natural attractions, spectacular scenery and renowned hospitality,” Mrs Williams said.

Arts and Health Australia has been granted $35,000 to stage the Caring for Koalas conference as part of the Hello Koalas Festival is being held in Port Macquarie next month. A further $20,000 has been awarded for the NSW Regional Events Conference at the Glasshouse in August.

“$65,000 has been allocated to the Australian Centre for Arts and Health for the 10th annual Art of Good Health and Wellbeing conference will be held in November," Mrs Williams added.

“We look forward to welcoming first-time and returning visitors to our region for these three conferences which will be held locally as a result of this NSW government funding boost which contributes to our goal of doubling overnight visitor expenditure to NSW by 2020,” Mrs Williams said. 

For more information on the NSW Regional Conferencing Strategy and Action Plan, including the Grants Program, go to, www.meetinnsw.com.au