The U.S. State Department has issued travel advisory for two popular tourist destinations with one tropical spot receiving the same warning as countries such as Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Colombia.
Jamaica is under a level 3 alert and The Bahamas is at a level 2, according to state department notices issued at the end of January. Level 3 urges travelers to reconsider their visit; level 2 says people should exercise increased caution during their stay.
READ MORE: US warning tourists to avoid popular travel destination after 18 murders this month
Jamaica
Jamaica’s warning comes due to crime and issued with medical services, the alert noted. Violent crimes such as home invasions, armed robberies and homicides are common with sexual assaults, including at popular all-inclusive resorts, occurring frequently.
“Local police often do not respond effectively to serious criminal incidents. When arrests are made, cases are infrequently prosecuted to a conclusive sentence,” the alert said, adding that for the last several years, Jamaica has one of the highest homicide rates in the Western Hemisphere.
Exacerbating the problem is a lack of emergency services and hospital care throughout the country with response times and quality varying widely. Public hospitals are under-resourced, private ones require up-front payments and ambulance services, especially in rural areas, is not always staffed by trained personnel.
Do not travel warnings cover a variety of Jamaica parishes, including all of Montego Bay on the inland side, Kingston, Morgan Bay and part of Negril.
The Bahamas
Crime is the main issue for travelers to The Bahamas.
The majority of the issues are in New Providence, especially in the “Over the Hill area” of Nassau and Freeport on Grand Bahamas island.
Gang-on-gang violence has resulted in a high homicide rate with 18 murders since the start of the year. Other crimes include burglaries, armed robberies and sexual assaults in both tourist and non-tourist areas.
Travelers should be especially vigilant in short-term vacation rental properties where private security companies do not have a presence, the state department warned.
What should travelers do:
- Do not attempt to bring firearms or ammunition. This includes stray rounds, shells or empty casings. The penalties for carrying firearms and/or ammunition, even inadvertently, are severe, and can include lengthy prison sentences.
- Avoid walking or driving at night.
- Avoid public buses.
- Avoid secluded places or situations.
- Do not physically resist any robbery attempt.
- Be aware of your surroundings and keep a low profile.
- Do not answer your door at your hotel/residence unless you know who it is.
- Prepare a contingency plan for emergency and medical situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist.