A total of 24 cultural and tourism construction projects costing 24.478 billion yuan break ground in Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province, on March 10. [Photo/cnnb.com.cn]

A total of 24 cultural and tourism construction projects with a combined cost of 24.478 billion yuan ($3.54 billion) broke ground in Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province, on March 10, according to local media reports.

The projects include renovations on scenic spots and resorts, the development of ancient towns and villages, and the construction of cultural and tourism towns and film and television centers.

One particularly important project is a tourism town in Ninghai county.

The town has received 3 billion yuan in investment and covers an area of more than 2,100 mu (140 hectares). It will consist of a resort hotel, water park, and other recreational facilities. It will be one of the largest leisure destinations in eastern China.

In 2020, Ningbo plans to ramp up investment in the cultural and tourism sectors by introducing 151 major cultural and tourism construction projects worth over 220 billion yuan in total.

The city has issued a string of measures to revitalize the local cultural and tourism market, both of which have been severely disrupted by the novel coronavirus outbreak.

Local authorities have allocated 50 million yuan in low-interest loans to prop up the cultural and tourism sectors and promised to cover up to 50 percent of loan interest for up to three months for severely hit enterprises, providing a maximum of up to 100,000 yuan.

The city will also temporarily refund 80 percent of deposits for tourism service quality to local travel agencies.

In addition, enterprises are encouraged to launch various online promotional campaigns to promote local cultural and tourism attractions.