Indonesia`s tourism sector could record a 1.31 percent growth in the midst of economic recovery efforts following the global crisis this year, a tourism ministry official said.

“Up to October 2009, the world was suffering from a global crisis affecting all sectors including tourism,” an expert staff for economic affairs, science and technology of the ministry of tourism, Titin Sukarya, said here on Saturday.

She said from April to October 2009 some tourist destination countries especially in Asia suffered a decline of up to 8.4 percent because of the crisis.

In spite of that, however, Indonesia`s tourism still recorded a positive growth. “This proves that Indonesian tourism is still attractive,” she said at the 9th Way Kambas Festival in Sukadana, East Lampung, Sumatra.

She said Indonesia was now ranked 81st among the world`s tourist destination countries, based on its natural beauty, specific culture, orderliness and security.

“We have extraordinary natural potentials which could be used as a source of strength to develop tourism,” she said.

Lampung district head Hi Satono hailed the idea saying he would strive to optimalize the potentials in the district to make it an interesting tourist destination.

“We will promote local culture so that more foreign tourists would come here,” he said.

Several tourist destinations in the region include the Way Kambas National Park, the Pugung Raharjo archeological site, the Way Jepara Kemuning Lake, the Beringin Indah Garden, the Wana Traditional House, the Pekalongan agro-tourism site and others.

Source : Antara