Ireland remains "one of Europe's most backward places when it comes to racism", according to the latest edition of a best-selling international guidebook.
The eighth edition of the Rough Guide to Ireland, to be published in July, also claims that on both sides of the Border, Irish society is homogenous, "remarkably conservative" and "seemingly untouched by developments in more tolerant societies".
"Black visitors will undoubtedly encounter racist attitudes, especially in rural areas, but these are usually the result of ignorance, rather than an intention to cause deliberate offence," the authors advise. "Nevertheless, it's wise to be wary when out at night in parts of central Dublin, Belfast and Galway."
The guide notes that verbal and physical abuse of refugees and asylum seekers has increased in the Republic's inner city areas in recent years. "In Belfast too, there has been a major attempt by loyalist gangs to 'cleanse' the city's ethnic population, targeting mainly the local Chinese community."
Attitudes to Travellers are even worse than those towards newcomers to the country, it adds.
The guidebook is well stocked with criticism of Irish towns and villages, with the ritually derided Irish beach resort taking its bi-annual panning.
However, Bundoran, Co Donegal, is deemed not to be as bad as some might allege. While it is criticised - "it's hard to avoid disappointment if the town is your first sight of Donegal" - its entry glows alongside that of Tramore.
The Co Waterford resort town is "surrounded by ghastly housing developments and the strand itself is marred by adjacent amusement arcades, caravan parks and fast-food outlets." Visit out of season, it suggests, or don't visit at all.
The best the authors could muster by way of faint praise for Larne, Co Antrim was that "its main street bustles with shoppers". Otherwise, they write, "it is a grim and ugly place, paint-splattered with loyalist slogans, symbols and insignia".
Co Carlow "has almost negligible appeal", while counties Tipperary and Waterford vie for the title of Ireland's dullest, though both might be pushed close by Co Limerick, "undoubtedly the least attractive county on Ireland's west coast, characterised by ugly industrial development along the Shannon and drab, undulating farmland".
However, Ireland's large cities are roundly praised. In a rhapsodic review, Dublin is described as "a thrusting, dynamic place, which despite its size remains utterly beguiling".
The Giants Causeway, the Rock of Cashel, Connemara, Co Kerry and west Cork, among other destinations, are cited as exemplars of Ireland's unique attraction.
Tourism officials in Bundoran and Tramore may take some consolation that they did not suffer the same fate as Portadown, Coleraine and Portlaoise, their attraction for the tourist so little-regarded that none was deemed to merit a mention.