Jakarta – Director general for tourist destination Ddvelopment at the Tourism Ministry, Sambudjo Parikesit, warned related institutions Thursday of potential child exploitation in the sex industry.

The warning was issued in response to a finding by UNICEF that about 40,000 Indonesian children had become victims of commercial sex exploitation.

"Although the increasing number of instance of child exploitation has no positive correlation with the development of the tourism Industry, we still need to be alert to this," Sambudjo told Antara.

He said the victims had been exposed to prostitution, pornography and trafficking.

To avoid such practices, the Tourism Ministry will hold workshops in Bandung, Yogyakarta and Makasar to inform regional administrations, NGOs, and the public.