More than 700 tourists were helped by Victim Support last year, a report by the group says.
The report of the Tourist Victim Support Service (TVSS) says the number of referrals to it is down on 2000 but that crimes are becoming more violent.
Fifty seven per cent of tourist robberies involved violence. Last year, one tourist was shot in a Dublin pub and a second was murdered.
Robbery is reported to be the main crime against foreign visitors to Ireland and Dublin has 73 per cent of tourist-related crimes.
Almost 60 per cent of referrals to the TVSS were in relation to robbery, followed by car theft at 11 per cent. Hired cars are seven times more likely to be broken into than private cars.
The report says French tourists accounted for the largest number of referrals British visitors, who have been the main nationality referred to the service in the past, comprised 14 per cent of the overall figure followed by US visitors at 13 per cent.
Victim Support Chief Executive Ms Lillian McGovern said: "Our goal for 2002 is to further promote the Tourist Victim Support Service among visitors assuring that any tourist that requires assistance can rely on the service for support, either by direct contact with our Helpline number 1850-661771, or through a referral by An Garda Síochána."
