New allure of malaysia

A Chinese diving fan finds herself in a crowd of fish at Pulau Sipadan in Sabah. [Photo by Ou Shuyi/China Daily]

A new consulate in Sabah, and the passage of time after two airline tragedies, are prompting Chinese tourists to return to the country's many attractions, Yang Feiyue reports.

A new Chinese consulate in Malaysia is expected to be a shot in the arm for local tourism.

It will help restore arrivals of Chinese tourists, says Huang Huikang, China's ambassador to Malaysia.

The consulate officially opened on April 27 and sits in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. It is China's second consulate in east Malaysia after Kuching, Sarawak.

Huang says that Malaysia was among the top 10 favorite destinations of Chinese travelers, and Sabah has a lot to offer them.

The consulate will make things easier for bilateral personnel exchanges and offer new opportunities for China-Malaysia development and cooperation, he adds.

"I love Sabah. I believe that Chinese tourists will enjoy Sabah and its eco-tourism. The people here are very friendly and kind," he told the Malay Mail Online.

Huang explains that the Chinese government and industry players will continue attracting tourists to the country. China is now planning for another consulate in Penang.

Clouds from last year's misfortunes are dissipating over Malaysia, as more tourists are heading to the country for its natural beauty and other attractions. Tourism has begun to bounce back in 2015 after the significant drop in the number of Chinese tourists since the tragedy of the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8, 2014.