Civil unrest could make tourists think twice about visiting one of Australia's major capital cities, with calls for safety measures to reassure the public.

Two officers were injured when riot police were pelted with large rocks and shards of glass while trying separate an anti-immigration rally from a counter-protest against racism in Melbourne's CBD on Sunday.

The ugly scenes came during a state crime wave, with the number of criminal incidents in Victoria reaching its highest point since reporting began 20 years ago.

Public incidents that capture national and international attention raise questions for prospective travellers who might be "nervous" about visiting Melbourne, Victoria Tourism Industry Council chief executive officer Lisa Patroni said.

"We know that tourism and hospitali

See Full Page