The U.S. State Department updated its travel advisory for Jamaica last week, maintaining the destination’s Level 3 advisory but saying that “tourist areas generally see lower rates of violent crime than other parts of the country.”
Additionally, a previous statement that sexual assaults occur “frequently, including at all-inclusive resorts,” has been replaced, with the latest advisory saying that the U.S. Embassy “routinely receives reports of sexual assaults, including from U.S. citizen tourists at resorts.”
The State Department also provided new information related to medical preparedness.
The latest Jamaica update is routine. For travel advisories at a level 3 and above, the State Department requires a comprehensive review every six months.
The U.S. State Department reissued its Level 3 travel warning for Jamaica in late January, urging U.S. citizens to “reconsider travel” to the destination due to high crime rates and limited access to quality healthcare.
That reissued advisory was met with swift pushback. Jamaica prime minister Andrew Holness and Sandals Resorts International chairman Adam Stewart both spoke out against the advisory’s portrayal of Jamaica, while Jamaica’s U.S. ambassador, Audrey Marks, urged U.S. officials to withdraw their assessment.
While in the latest advisory U.S. officials continued to “strongly encourage” American travelers to buy travel insurance — including medical evacuation coverage — before visiting Jamaica, they added a recommendation that U.S. citizens should pack extra prescription medication. According to the advisory, common medications, including insulin, can be difficult to obtain in Jamaica.
Regarding medical services, the advisory also incorporates more direct language, asserting that “U.S. citizens should not expect the same level of healthcare available in Jamaica as is available in the United States.” (ttps://www.travelweekly.com/)
