Jamaica Travel Alert: U.S. Issues Level 3 Warning for Tourists. The U.S. State Department suggests thinking twice about going to Jamaica.
They say it’s a Level 3 travel advisory because of “crime and medical services.” They made this change on Jan. 23, telling us that things like home invasions, armed robberies, sexual assaults, and homicides happen often in the country, even at “all-inclusive resorts.”
The alert mentions Jamaica’s homicide rate, which has been one of the highest in the Western Hemisphere for years.
The State Department warns that violence and shootings happen a lot in many parts of the country. They also say the local police don’t handle serious crimes well. Some neighborhoods in Jamaica are even called high-risk travel areas.
If you’re planning to go to Jamaica, they say be careful because medical help might be slow and not easily available.
They suggest getting travel insurance because U.S. health insurance might not work, and Medicare doesn’t cover you overseas. Tips for Jamaica travelers include not using public buses, staying away from quiet places, and not going out at night.
The U.S. Embassy in Jamaica also shared this warning.
Jamaica’s Tourism Minister, Edmund Bartlett, said this month that lots of tourists came last year.
“In 2023, we had 4.15 million visitors, a big 24% more than the year before. This shows how much people love Jamaica. 2,886,064 were stopover visitors, 16.4% more than in 2022. Also, 1,265,586 came on cruises, a huge 48.3% more than 2022,” says Bartlett’s statement.
This travel warning comes right after the U.S. State Department told people to be extra careful in the Bahamas due to high crime rates. They say to “exercise increased caution” on land and in the water.
The advisory explains that activities with commercial watercraft, like water tours, might not be safe. Some boats might not be well-kept, and some operators might not have safety certifications. They say always check local weather and marine alerts before doing water activities.