KOTA KINABALU: Visitors can now enjoy the state's natural diversity in the lap of luxury, just a 10-minute speedboat ride outside the city.

After a year-long refurbishment, the Gayana Eco Resort at Malohom Bay in the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, is open for business.

A local company, Gayana Eco Resort Sdn Bhd, took over the property last year.

The new resort had 44 luxury chalets on the water, which command a sea or a jungle view, said general manager Scot Toon.

"Our luxury rooms offer beds with luxury linens, LCD television sets and DVD players. Our ocean view and mangrove view villas have steps directly from their balconies out into the lagoon."
As part of its commitment to preserving the environment, the resort has set up a Marine Ecology Research Centre, which focuses on teaching guests and the general public the importance of ecosystems.

The centre has aquarium displays of sea life, and several programmes are under way, including the propagation of giant clams and coral reef rehabilitation.