By: Staff Writer
February 5, 2024
The United States State Department issues travel advisories against The Bahamas and Jamaica but both countries dismiss the advisories as alarmist and over sensationalizing.
The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism said in a statement that the Level 2 travel advisory had not changed and the incidents described in the January 2024 U.S. Embassy crime alert “do not reflect general safety in the Bahamas, a country of 16 tourism destinations, and many more islands.
“The government of the Bahamas is implementing a robust and innovative crime reduction and prevention strategy. This comprehensive approach is informed by the latest research and successful international models, focusing on five key pillars: prevention, detection, prosecution, punishment, and rehabilitation.”
The Department’s advisory particularly draws attention to gang-related violence and high homicide rates. Both tourist and non-tourist areas are said to be affected by crimes such as burglaries, armed robberies, and sexual assaults. Additionally, the advisory suggests travelers to be vigilant, especially when staying at vacation rentals that might lack private security.
The Jamaica Tourist Board on the other hand said the crime rate against visitors to Jamaica “remains extremely low at 0.01%.”
The JTB also noted that the State Department’s update to its Travel Advisory “reaffirmed” the nation’s Level 3 designation which has been in place since 2022 and that there are “very distinctly defined areas within Jamaica that the advisory cites as having high risk for crime, so the majority of the island’s tourism product remains unaffected.”
“The island consistently ranks among the top destinations for international travel, welcoming 4.1 million visitors in 2023, including 2.1 million from the United States,” the JTB added. “Visitors can continue to come with confidence to enjoy all that Jamaica has to offer.”
Certain areas of Jamaica are considered high-risk. These regions include Montego Bay, downtown Kingston, parts of St. Ann’s Parish near Ocho Rios, and specific neighborhoods in Negril.
“Not withstanding the advisory, Jamaica remains not only a desirable destination but a safe and secure destination for international visitors,” Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett told a news outlet. “Sometimes, the unintended consequences of policies is they cause great harm and damage to the stability and safety of other countries.”
However, the State Department has warned that Jamaica has reported one of the highest homicide rates in the Western Hemisphere for several years.
At least 65 people were killed between Jan. 1 and 27 of this year, data from the Jamaica Constabulary Force show. Shockingly, the high murder rate is down from last year — 81 people were killed in the first month of 2023.