Tourists floated alongside friendly whale sharks in Indonesia.

Footage shows the holidaymakers posing for the drone camera while laying on their vessels with the gentle giants swimming around them in Gorontalo province on September 29.

The area is frequented by visitors for the marine animals that swim just a few metres from the shore of Botubarani Beach.

Tour guides offer attractions such as crystal kayaks, paddleboards, and feeding boats while their videos are being taken. Aside from that, swimming, diving, and snorkelling are popular activities in the area.

Local tourism division ehad Yudiawan Maksum said: ‘The whale shark tourism is the larges source of revenue here.

‘We encourage residents to borrow capital from government to start their business. We also hope that people will protect the whale shark and help in conservation.

‘These animals play a big role in our economy which continues to grow. People are now earning income for their families.'

Whale sharks are the largest known species of fish. Despite their immense size, which can reach 40 feet (12 meters) or more, they are gentle, slow-moving filter feeders.

Despite being a profitable industry for locals, whale shark tourism conservationists claim frequent human presence can disrupt the sharks' natural behaviour and alter their feeding patterns or migratory routes due to boat traffic or the presence of snorkelers and divers.