Washington D.C. – The U.S. State Department has revised its travel advisory for Jamaica, maintaining its Level 3 warning but adjusting the language concerning crime rates in tourist areas.
In the latest update, the advisory notes that “tourist areas generally see lower rates of violent crime compared to other parts of the country.” This represents a shift from previous statements, which suggested that sexual assaults were “frequent, including at all-inclusive resorts.” The updated advisory now indicates that the U.S. Embassy “routinely receives reports of sexual assaults, including from U.S. citizen tourists at resorts.”
The update also introduces new information on medical preparedness. The State Department has emphasized the importance of travel insurance, including medical evacuation coverage, and advises U.S. citizens to bring extra prescription medication, as common drugs such as insulin may be hard to find in Jamaica.
This revision comes as part of the routine six-month review process for travel advisories at Level 3 and above. The State Department’s last advisory, issued in late January, urged U.S. citizens to “reconsider travel” to Jamaica due to concerns over high crime rates and limited access to quality healthcare.
The previous advisory faced criticism from Jamaican officials, including Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Sandals Resorts International Chairman Adam Stewart, who contested the portrayal of Jamaica. Jamaican U.S. Ambassador Audrey Marks also called for a reassessment of the advisory.
In addition to urging travel insurance, the updated advisory stresses that “U.S. citizens should not expect the same level of healthcare in Jamaica as they would in the United States,” reflecting ongoing concerns about the adequacy of medical services available to travelers.
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