SOME 879 tourists who had belongings stolen last year were helped by the voluntary Tourist Victim Support Scheme (TVSS) in Dublin and Cork last year, the group has said.
At its annual meeting, the TVSS was also told that the number of tourists referred to it for assistance and reassurance increased by almost 35 per cent on 1997 despite the fact that there was a drop in muggings reported to gardai during the year.
Almost half of the 482 cases - involving 879 tourists - which were referred to the TVSS had been robbed by pickpockets and were not assaulted. However, four tourists were robbed at knifepoint and two by people holding blood-filled syringes. In all the group dealt with the aftermath of 13 violent crimes against tourists.
Most crime against tourists continues to take place in Dublin, with about 60 per cent of the referrals in 1998 coming from the city centre.
However, the group pointed out that the number of crimes against tourists in the rest of the country almost doubled from 58 in 1997 to 104 last year.
The TVSS chairman, Mr Derek Nally, said yesterday the number of tourists referred to the group for help showed that the scheme, started in 1994, was successful and worthwhile.