Jamaica and the Bahamas respond to US travel advisories

Jamaica and the Bahamas have responded to recent travel advisories issued by the U.S. Department of State by noting the rise in crime in both countries. The Jamaica Tourist Board stated that the crime rate against visitors to Jamaica "remains extremely low at 0.01%".

The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) also emphasized that the updated US Department of State travel advisory "reaffirmed" the Level 3, which is in effect from 2022, and that Jamaica has "very clearly defined areas that the advisory calls high risk for crime, so most of the island's tourism product remains unaffected," travelweekly.com writes.

"The island consistently ranks among the most popular destinations for international travel, receiving 4.1 million visitors in 2023, including 2.1 million from the United States. Visitors can continue to come with confidence to enjoy all that Jamaica has to offer," the JTB added.

Mike Lavallee, Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Jamaica, said that while the level of the advisory has not changed, the January 23 update "includes an analysis of accidents, illnesses and deaths of U.S. citizens, as well as a review of health care services and medical care received during hospitalization of U.S. citizens."

In a statement, the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism noted that the Level 2 travel advisory has not changed and the incidents described in the January 2024 US Embassy advisory "do not reflect the overall security situation in the Bahamas, a country with 16 tourist destinations and many other islands."

"The Government of The Bahamas is implementing a strong and innovative crime reduction and prevention strategy. This comprehensive approach is based on the latest research and successful international models, focusing on five key principles: prevention, detection, prosecution, punishment and rehabilitation," the statement said.