THE average ratepayer chips in $36 for the council's theatre, art and tourism centres and more people are taking advantage of that spend than they have at any point in the past three years.

Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre hosted 205 shows in the 2016/17 financial year and 175,000 people attended.

The attendance total was up 24,700 compared to last financial year, with events like The Wiggles, Spirit of Anzac and The Footy Show selling out quickly.

Mackay region councillor Fran Mann said it was a "great bellwether for the local economy and this increase in attendance is an excellent indication of the returning confidence in the local economy”.

"The MECC noticed a large drop in attendance associated with the economic downturn in 2013-2014,” she said.

"We have had a steady increase in numbers since mid-2015 as Mackay slowly recovered.

"The Mackay regional events attraction scheme has assisted with this as well as an increase in conferences.”

And the centre has been reaching its goals.

The target for the number of performances cost-recovered was 50% and the centre achieved 57%. It held 25 conferences when the target was 20 and there were 80 days when the centre was empty, which is 10 less than the target.

It also over-reached its target of six local events assisted by the council, either through financial or in-kind help, by delivering 20 events. These included the Origin Fan Day Luncheon, Parks and Leisure Australia Conference, NRL Footy Show and Elton John media launch.

And as the Eisteddfod approaches, last year's overall student attendance of 2656, above the 2000 target, could be eclipsed.

The centre could improve as well. It didn't meet its target for attracting events from outside the region, 34 instead of 40, and was down on its number of catered functions, 110 rather than 140.

It also missed the mark on average attendance size, with 439 attending compared to the desired 550.