The US authorities have issued a Level 3 warning, urging citizens to refrain from traveling to Jamaica due to the high rate of violent crimes on the island.

This warning directly affects the tourism sector, which is a key industry for Jamaica, attracting approximately 1.66 million visitors each year, with a significant portion coming from the United States.

It is worth noting that this alert is not new, as it extends the previous warning issued by Washington over a year ago.

The United States advises against traveling to the destination of Jamaica... because of...

Thousands of homicides in Jamaica

The State Department justifies this warning based on the significant number of homicides recorded on the island in recent years and considers that the Jamaican police do not always respond effectively to serious criminal acts, while convictions are rare after arrests.

Although a relative decrease in the number of murders has been observed since the beginning of January compared to last year, it remains very concerning, with over four hundred cases reported so far this year.

The United States advises against traveling to the destination of Jamaica... because of...

On the other hand, France warns on its diplomatic website that its embassy in Jamaica “has limited capabilities to assist French nationals in the event of a crisis.“

“French citizens traveling to the country are responsible for their own security. They are advised to ensure that they have the necessary means for their stay, including in the event of an accident or crisis.

Crime is very high in Jamaica, particularly due to the presence of highly active gangs in certain urban areas that are not recommended for travelers (mainly in Kingston).

The homicide rate is one of the highest in the world. It should be noted that while foreign tourists are not specifically targeted, they can still be direct or collateral victims of armed attacks (firearms are common), including in reputedly peaceful residential neighborhoods,” as stated on France Diplomatie.