The US State Department is asking travelers to reconsider visiting Jamaica.
The country is under a level 3 travel warning due to “crime and medical services”. The agency announced the change to the travel warning on Jan. 23, stating that “violent crimes, such as home invasions, armed robberies, sexual assaults, and murders” are common in the country, and sexual assaults occur frequently, including “all-inclusives.” resorts.”
“The homicide rate reported by the Jamaican government has been among the highest in the Western Hemisphere for several years,” the warning said.
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The agency said violence and shootings “occur regularly” in many areas of the country, and local police “do not respond effectively to serious criminal incidents.” Several of Jamaica’s neighboring communities have been designated as high-risk travel areas.
Individuals wishing to travel to Jamaica are cautioned that health care providers with varying response times are under-resourced and not readily available.
The advisory encouraged potential travelers to obtain travel insurance because health insurance may not be accepted in the U.S. and Medicare and Medicare are not valid abroad. Advice for those traveling to Jamaica includes avoiding public buses, staying away from secluded areas and avoiding walking or driving at night.
The US Embassy in Jamaica also shared a notice.
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Jamaica.
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Jamaica’s tourism minister, Edmund Bartlett, said earlier this month that the country welcomed a “significant” increase in tourists last year.
“In 2023, we received a total of 4.15 million visitors, a significant increase of 24% over the previous year. This reflects the exceptional appeal of Destination Jamaica. This includes 2,886,064 visitors who stopped over, representing a growth of 16 .4% compared to the figure recorded in 2022. In addition, 1,265,586 cruise arrivals were recorded during the year, which represents an increase of an incredible 48.3% compared to the number of cruise passengers who visited the island in 2022. Bartlett press release.
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The change to the travel warning comes days after the US State Department issued a Level 2 warning for the Bahamas due to crime rates. The agency advised travelers to “use increased caution” in the area and the water.
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“Activities involving commercial recreational vessels, including water tours, are not consistently regulated. Vessels may be poorly maintained and some operators may not have safety certificates. Always review and heed local weather and sea warnings before engaging in activities on leads,” the warning explained.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education