Visitors flock to the iconic West Lake in Hangzhou city, in East China's Zhejiang province, on May 1 during China's four-day Labor Day holiday. [Photo/IC]

Hangzhou, home to the iconic West Lake in eastern Zhejiang province, witnessed booming tourism in the first half of 2019, said a meeting held on July 11.

Official statistics showed that in the first half of this year, Hangzhou welcomed around 91.95 million domestic and foreign tourists, up 11 percent year-on-year and generating tourism revenue worth 164.95 billion yuan ($23.98 billion).

Around 37 million visits were made by visitors to destinations in the countryside from January to June, for a year-on-year increase of 28.11 percent.

To date, authorities have listed a total of 17 scenic sites there as national level A tourism spots.

Tourists visit the Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City near Hangzhou city in East China's Zhejiang province, July 7, 2019. [Photo/VCG]

As the city continues to tap into its abundant tourism resources, its park showcasing the Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu city, which were recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site on July 6, opened to the public.

Officials said that in the first half of this year, Hangzhou has actively promoted local culture and its tourism industry in a number of overseas countries including Japan, South Korea, the United States and Vietnam -- amid a broader effort to raise the international profile of the city.

Elsewhere, a report from the International Congress and Convention Association revealed that Hangzhou was ranked third among global conference destinations in China.

To cultivate a diversified tourism sector, the local tourism commission has organized a series of cultural and tourism events -- serving as a communications platform for businesses and enterprises to forge partnerships, including the 2019 Hangzhou Tea Culture Expo.

Hangzhou will continue to expand its cultural and tourism industries, promote international exchanges and develop its intangible cultural heritages, as well as push ahead with digital transformation of traditional industries, said an official from the local culture and tourism bureau.

Traditional snacks from Hangzhou are offered during an event to promote tourism of the city in Hanoi, Vietnam, on July 3. [Photo/Xinhua]