Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province, is committed to becoming a modern international tourist city, a top tourism official said yesterday.

Despite the impact of SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) in the first half of the year, the tourism sector has started to rebound, said Sheng Chengmin, vice director of Hangzhou tourism commission.

In the first half of next year, it is expected to return to 2002 levels, he said.

According to Sheng, the city now receives 27 million visitors annually, of whom 1.04 million are from abroad.

The revenue generated by the city's tourism sector accounts for 16.5 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) -- higher than the average internationally.

To make Hangzhou's tourism sector more competitive, the municipal government has promoted the former tourism bureau to a commission. The commission is responsible for the comprehensive planning, development and management of tourist resources in the city, he said.

The commission will also act as a go-between for parties involved in the tourism sector.

The introduction of foreign funds, high-level tourist projects and advanced management has helped attract more international visitors and improved the quality of tourist products in Hangzhou.

Sheng said the tourism industry in Hangzhou is moving from simple sightseeing to more complex tourism such as exhibition-related tourism.

The city has established new scenic spots around the West Lake, the most prestigious spot in the city, to make the lake region more attractive.

(China Daily December 5, 2003)