Assistance service sees rise in crimes against tourists

Tourists can be seen as easy targets for crime, which may help explain the increase in the number of cases referred to the Irish Tourist Assistance Service last year.

But provisional figures also indicate that even after falling victim to crime here, almost 90% of holidaymakers continued with their stay.

Official figures will be released in March but yesterday the Irish Tourist Assistance Service said 433 cases were referred to its office in 2012, involving more than 700 tourists.

The comparable figure for 2011 was 396 cases.

Four in five cases reported to the office related to incidents in the Dublin area, but the manager of the Irish Tourist Assistance Service, Lisa Kennedy, stressed that in the majority of cases, the crimes were opportunistic in nature and not violent.

“Tourists are perceived as carrying a large amount of cash and can be seen as easy targets,” Ms Kennedy said.

Handbags being stolen or phones and passports taken are more likely to occur than a violent assault or mugging, she said.

The Irish Tourist Assistance Service has one office in Dublin but through contacts around the country can deal with referrals from elsewhere.

Referrals are made in most cases from the gardaí while the service often liaises with embassies.

The figures show that 89% of tourists affected by crime during their stay here last year continued with their holiday once the issue was resolved.

In many cases it is a case of providing short-term aid, such as help in cancelling stolen credit or bank cards or altering flight details because of a stolen or missing passport.

The service also operates a helpline and in some cases the services of hostels and hotels are also made available if people are delayed in taking a flight due to a stolen passport, while transport to embassies is also arranged when required. The service does not offer financial assistance, replacement of stolen items, or insurance or legal advice.

“Over the past 19 years we have built up a lot of goodwill in the industry,” Ms Kennedy said, referring to the fact that in many cases, hotels and restaurants will offer to help a tourist in distress.

“We will stay in contact with [the tourist] over a number of days if that is required,” she said. “We want to help them get back on track.

“You don’t want them going home with a bad taste in their mouth,” she added.

*www.itas.ie