Armed guards may become a presence on one of the world's most famous tourist attractions in an attempt to protect visitors from increasing levels of crime.

Cape Town's head of tourism, Simon Grindrod, has called for military support on Table Mountain, after an alleged total of 15 muggings in little over two weeks.

Funding has been requested for an armed "rapid response" team, as well as additional CCTV cameras and more dog patrols. Mr Grindrod suggested that the military, which already uses Table Mountain National Park for training, could "step up patrols" and support the efforts of park rangers.

The mountain currently has 52 rangers patrolling it daily, backed by 200 volunteers, but the park authorities say this not enough of a deterrent.

Park manager Brett Myrdal added: "We don't want our guys to be armed because of the threat to them if they carry weapons. But we want the criminals to know that there will be armed back-up."

In February, the park announced it would spend 15m rand (£1m) over the next four years to secure visitor safety, and asked the city and the province each for contributions of 4m rand (£275,000). Neither has yet agreed.

The city is keen to crack down on crimes against tourists ahead of the football World Cup, which the nation will host in 2010. Earlier this week, South Africa Tourism said they are expecting some 450,000 international travellers in the space of six weeks.