The increase of working hours for urban and rural residents was the major factor that restricted the improvement of leisure quality during the "12th Five-year Plan" period, according to a report released by China Tourism Academy.

The Annual Report of China Leisure Development (2015-2016) released by China's Tourism Research Institute indicated that 71.4 percent of urban and 66 percent of rural residents say overtime and overloading are the two major reasons that affect recreational quality.

During the "12th Five-Year" period, the proportion of those traveling continued growing, with more variety available and increasing consumption power, the report said.

The recreational scope of urban residents continued to expand, with the proportion of leisure time at home dropping and that of outdoors increasing, especially long-distance (more than 10 kilometers) traveling.

Leisure time shortage is set to last over the short term but recreational activities will further diversify and scope further expand during the 13th Five Year Plan, the report added.

Implementation of paid vacation is encouraged to serve as a breakthrough to improve leisure time, it was further suggested.