Chinese people's desire for leisure activities is rising thanks to high-quality economic growth, but the development of the sector is being hindered by a lack of free time and suitable products, the Tourism Research Center of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences said in an annual report released on Aug 5.

Research from the National Bureau of Statistics, revealed in a China Central Television show in March, said people are eager to partake in leisure activities such as tourism, exercise and cultural entertainment. Tourism is the most popular activity, favored by about 39 percent of people.

The center's report on leisure development said the optimization of the country's economic structure is driving people's interest in leisure activities, with consumption now the main driver of economic development as people become more eager to spend than save.

Increased financial support from the government is also creating a better environment for the public's pursuit of leisure activities, the report said.

For example, the central government provided about 1.5 billion yuan ($213 million) toward the building and renovation of tourism-related infrastructure, such as restrooms at tourist attractions.

As part of efforts to improve leisure facilities around the country, about 127 million yuan has been channeled into the improvement of public sports facilities in southern China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region by the central and local government this year-37.4 million yuan more than last year - which is being used to build or renovate gyms and parks.

However, the report said, people's leisure activities are still constrained by a lack of time, an insufficient supply of leisure facilities - with more available in urban areas than rural ones - and the absence of a systematic plan for the nation's leisure development.

"It takes a rather long time to ensure people have sufficient leisure time and products," said Song Rui, director of the tourism research center. "The first suggestion is to enhance the vacation policy to eliminate the barrier limiting leisure time.

"It's also important to increase financial investment from the government to make more leisure products available to the public. Research on leisure should be encouraged to provide ideas for the nation's leisure development."

Some local governments have launched policies designed to balance people's increasing appetite for leisure activities and the time available to pursue them.

For example, Hebei province released a plan in January that encouraged the introduction of flexible working schedules to extend weekends to two and a half days, starting from Friday lunchtime.