Visitor safety in urban tourism environments: the case of Auckland, New Zealand

There is limited research relating to urban tourism and the behaviour of visitors within the urban environment. Comparatively few studies of perceptions of safety in urban areas exist. As a result, there is a poor understanding of visitor safety issues, particularly in relation to special events. This paper examines the scope and dimensions of visitor safety during one hallmark sporting event in Auckland, New Zealand during 2000-2001-the America's Cup. The research reviews both the existing research on tourist safety and crime in urban areas and establishes the nature and impact of a sporting event on tourist-related crime. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.