13,000 tourists were victims of crime in Ireland over last 20 years

Almost 13,000 tourists have received assistance in Ireland after being affected by crime during their visits here over the last 20 years.

The Irish Tourist Assistance Service (ITAS) said the tourists had been the victims of more than 7,500 crimes.

It said theft was the main offence — accounting for about half of all crimes — and one that continued to grow in 2013.

The service said theft can range from having handbags stolen to cars being broken into, particularly where items are visible.

Speaking at an event marking the 20th anniversary of ITAS, Tourism Minister Paschal Donohoe said: “Ireland remains one of the safest destinations for tourists and the gardaí are working hard to ensure that crime against tourists is kept at one of the lowest levels in Europe.

“However, when incidents do occur, it is vital to look after visitors to our country and to provide them with practical assistance and emotional support for their own good and to ensure that they go home with an overall positive view of Ireland.”

He said ITAS had provided professional assistance and support to tourists who experience crime visiting Ireland.

The chairman of ITAS, Martin Holohan, said: “ITAS is the only dedicated service in Europe offering specialist assistance to tourist victims of crime.

“Over the past 20 years, 86% of tourists who received assistance from ITAS continued with their holiday plans.

“This is an excellent indicator of the positive role the service plays in managing negative experiences. We are very proud of what ITAS has achieved to date.”

Lisa Kennedy, the chief executive of ITAS, said: “Experiencing crime in a foreign country can be very traumatic. Tourists might not speak the language, they may be travelling alone, and they may be stranded without the means to support themselves. ITAS has the knowledge, experience, and contacts to deal with the problems associated with tourist crime.”

ITAS statistics show that crimes are most likely to occur when tourists are sightseeing, shopping, and generally relaxing in restaurants and cafés.

The majority of tourists ITAS assist tend to be female, aged between 17 and 25, and have been victims in Dublin city centre between 2-6pm.

Contact ITAS on 1890 365700