KUALA LUMPUR, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Tourists arrival from China to Malaysia is likely to hit the 3 million mark in 2017, Malaysian Tourism Minister Nazri Aziz said here Thursday.

He said his ministry is confident that Malaysia will be able to attract 3 million Chinese tourists this year as there had been a significant increase of inbound Chinese tourists in the first three months of the year.

Speaking during a tourism event, the minister said Chinese tourists have flocked to Malaysia's Sabah state to enjoy blue skies and beaches.

Malaysia's famous tropical fruit of durian has also attracted Chinese tourists, he said.

Malaysia attracted some 2.2 million Chinese tourists in 2016.