A scheme that allows scenic spots such as mountains and lakes in Hunan province to be managed by private operators will be expanded from March, the provincial tourism bureau said on Tuesday.

Under the new regulation, "mountains, lakes and all tourism resources will be put on the market so they can be allocated more efficiently", Ouyang Bin, director of the bureau's policy and regulation division, told China Daily.

The move is in line with Hunan authorities' commitment to build "a strong tourism industry", he said.