Jamaica has recently had a turbulent relationship with other countries due to travel advisories that paint a less-than-appealing picture. In particular, the U.S. has (controversially) labeled Jamaica as a place to be cautious about traveling to. The U.S. has, in theory, labeled Jamaica as an unsafe place to visit with its renewed travel warnings earlier this year. The notice came at an unfortunate time for Jamaica just ahead of the country’s high tourist season, of which American citizens account for a large segment of the country’s visitors. Recently, the U.S. reissued the travel advisory which has also been met with critical judgements. 

The Latest Travel Warning For Jamaica

The U.S. Department of State has given Jamaica a travel advisory level ranking. Of the four levels in the ranking system, each represents the amount of caution travelers should have when considering a visit to a given destination. Level one is the best in terms of safety and security since it is when travelers should exercise normal precautions. Level two is when people should exercise increased caution while abroad. Levels three and four are when the government suggests reconsidering travel or not traveling to the destination at all, respectively. 

The government’s assessment of the safety and security of Jamaica for American visitors has resulted in a level three advisory. With this travel advisory level comes the assumption that Jamaica is a pretty dangerous place to visit. Seemingly because of the backlash from the travel advisory, new information has been released regarding the specific reasons for Jamaica’s ranking. On July 25, the U.S. Department of State updated the travel advisory for Jamaica to reflect additional relevant information. According to the travel advisory, travelers should be concerned about health care and crime in Jamaica.

The Travel Advisory Update

The travel advisory points out that the medical services in Jamaica are not similar to the health care in the United States. Both emergency service and routine care response times for either illness or injury may be slow. Some hospitals require payment upfront. Also, some hospitals may not be able to administer specialty care and ambulance services differ. EMTs are not always accessible and some common medications in the U.S., like insulin, may be difficult to find. These issues may make visitors of Jamaica feel like their health safety is not secure, so it is recommended that people acquire medical evacuation insurance. 

Another concern for travelers considering a visit to Jamaica is the crime. Although the tourist areas typically experience fewer of these crimes, the likelihood is still there. The government of Jamaica has even reported on the country’s homicide rate, which is one of the highest in the Western Hemisphere. The most common crimes are armed robbery and sexual assault. 

How The Travel Warning Impacts Travelers

This new information on things to watch out for while in Jamaica is a cause for concern for many people. Despite the country’s laid-back ambiance and beautiful surroundings, travelers need to consider more than the potential photo opportunities when it comes to their trips. Some people question the travel advisory because Jamaica has not been typically considered a significantly dangerous place. However, travelers should visit at their own risk based on the information that the U.S. Department of State has provided.