Over 550 visitors to Ireland used the Tourist Victim Support Service last year. Of the 561 tourists to avail of the service, there were 36 cases of violent crime referred in 2004, compared to 32 the previous year.
The most frequent crime against tourists using the service was larceny, at 54 per cent or 190 cases.
Theft from parked cars represented 15 per cent of crimes, or 52 in total, according to the report.
The number of muggings remained the same as last year at 13 and robberies were up by four cases to six. Two rape cases were referred and nine assaults.
Launching the report in Dublin yesterday, Tourist Victim Support Service co-ordinator Trasy Doran said it was "far from encouraging" that after 10 years of supporting tourist victims of crime the organisation was still not adequately funded".
She said tourism generates huge revenue for Government and business alike and structured funding would show more responsibility towards visitors to Ireland.
Despite receiving funding from the Government, Fáilte Ireland and Dublin Tourism, as well as some sponsorship, the organisation ran at a loss again last year.
Since it was established, the victim support service has helped in 4,246 cases of crimes against tourists.
The highest proportion of victims came from the United States, followed by Britain. Ms Doran also said there was an increase in the number of tourist crime victims from eastern Europe.
The Garda remain the main source of referrals to the service (305 or 86 per cent), with the highest numbers coming from Store Street and Pearse Street stations in Dublin.
It was important when people were away from their familiar supports and surroundings, and at a time of trauma, that they should feel there was a place in this country they could turn to for "comfort, emotional support and practical assistance", said Ms Doran.
"The effectiveness of the service is clear from the high number of tourist crime victims who continue with their holiday plans. In 10 years, 88 per cent or 5,720 victims continued their holiday after our intervention."
However, some 6 per cent had to shorten or abandon their holiday, typically because their luggage had been stolen.
Five per cent were forced to stay on due to hospitalisation, theft of their own car, or the need to resolve problems with visas, passports and other documents.
