REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BATAM -- Indonesia has tremendous marine tourism potential, but it remains largely untapped and has yet to attract domestic and foreign tourists, a minister said.

Marine tourism comprises the three sections of beaches, seas and undersea attractions, Tourism Minister Arief Yahya stated here on Saturday.

Of Indonesia's marine tourism destinations, 60 percent are beaches, 30 percent are seas and 10 percent are undersea attractions.

The country has a lot of beautiful beaches, but only the Kute Beach in Bali is famous, he pointed out.

"Indonesia's marine tourism contributes a meagre 10 percent (to the total revenue from tourism)," Yahya revealed.

Furthermore, the Indonesian government set a target of earning US$4 billion from marine tourism this year, higher than the US$1 billion target set last year.

According to Deputy Governor of Riau Islands Soerya Respationo, 96 percent of the province's territory is water.

Riau Islands offers white sand beaches, big rocks, deep sea fishing and adventure sports, and an undersea panorama of fish and coral reefs, although Respationo admitted that the potential has yet to be optimally tapped into.

Batam received the third largest number of foreign tourists, following Bali and Jakarta. However, most of them spent their time either shopping or playing golf, not enjoying marine tourist resorts.

Head of the Batam tourism service, Yusfa Hendri, noted that the authorities planned to develop the islands of Galang, New Galang and other surrounding islands to attract tourists.

These islands have beautiful coral reefs that prove to be a paradise for divers and people who fish and snorkel as a hobby.

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