New allure of malaysia

A seaside landscape in Kota Kinabalu in Sabah. [Photo/China Daily]

"We've seen steady growth in the number of Chinese tourists to Malaysia this year," says Ctrip's tourism department marketing director, Dai Yu.

Malaysia ranks seventh among the top 10 foreign tourism destinations for Chinese tourists during the 2015 Spring Festival, according to a report issued early this year by the China Tourism Academy.

"It's a good time to visit the country, as the ringgit has fallen 15 to 20 percent against the yuan," Dai says.

A favorable new visa policy is also expected to entice more Chinese tourists, Dai says.

The Malaysian government announced recently that Chinese tourists can be exempted from the visa application fee through the end of this year.

"But they still have to pay 120 yuan ($19.30) as a service fee," says Wang Shanshan, marketing director of the Malaysian embassy in China's tourism department.

"Chinese can stay in Malaysia for 30 days with a tourist visa."

Nice sunshine, pleasant climate, primitive tropical forests, island scenery, ancient folk customs and historical culture sites are luring tourists from afar to the country.

The best time to travel the east coast is from August and September, when the rainy season blows over, while the September to March period is considered prime time for divers along the west coast.

"Chinese tourists surge during the Spring Festival, the National Day and summer vacations," Dai says. Langkawi, Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Laguna Redang Island and Cherating Beach are among the popular destinations.

The Taman Negara National Park that spans Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan is ideal for hikers, who can see various wild animals here, from fireflies to elephants. In addition, there are 27 other large-scale parks in easy reach.

The Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve at the center of Kuala Lumpur could also help tourists stretch their legs.

Divers have taken quite a shine to Malaysia, which offers a variety of diving opportunities, reasonable prices, and convenient transportation. Sabah's Pulau Sipadan is among the most popular venues.