A pocket-sized safety and crime-prevention guide for tourists visiting Ireland was launched today by An Garda Síochána, the Tourist Victim Support Service (TVSS) and Vodafone Ireland.
The document was published in response to a Dublin Institute of Technology survey which recently found that 66 per cent of visitors felt safety and security information should be more readily available. Only 11 per cent said they received safety information while in Ireland.
The multilingual guide contains information about the services offered by the TVSS as well as advice on the care of belongings, personal safety and car security.
There were 627 reported cases of crime against tourists last year, and there have been 150 reported this year, according to a TVSS spokesperson.
The majority of crimes against tourists took place in the Dublin city centre area.
Roughly 100,000 booklets have been printed and are available in major tourist offices, car rental outlets, accommodation providers, and at key tourist attractions.