Travelers to Jamaica might notice that the U.S. Department of State has issued a travel advisory for the country. In June 2022, a new travel advisory had been issued for Jamaica due to high crime in certain areas.
On May 10, 2023, the U.S. Department of State reissued the Level 3 advisory. This indicates that Americans should reconsider traveling to the country.
Suggested: Check out the current Mexico Travel Advisory
Latest Safety Updates and News from Jamaica:
January 4, 2024 – Jamaican police reports decline in murder rates coming into 2024
In 2023, Jamaica reported a 7.8% reduction in murders compared to the previous year, marking the lowest rate since 2020. The total count was 1,393 murders, down from 1,511 in 2022. There were also decreases in shootings, woundings, and rapes. The government, led by Prime Minister Andrew Holness, has committed to combating crime with investments in police resources. This includes enhancements in intelligence, mobility, investigative capabilities, and adherence to human rights standards, reflecting significant progress in law enforcement over the past decade.
November 27: U.S EMBASSY SECURITY ALERT
On November 27, 2023, the U.S. Embassy in Jamaica issued a security alert due to a police-involved shooting and subsequent police and protest activity on Mountain View Avenue near Jacques Road. The alert advised U.S. Embassy personnel to avoid the area and suggested alternate routes for those traveling to the airport.
October 11, 2023: Jamaica U.S. Embassy ALERT: Dengue Fever Outbreak Declared in Jamaica
Jamaica’s Ministry of Health declared a dengue fever outbreak due to a rise in cases across the island. As of October 11, 2023, there were 1,060 confirmed dengue infections in Jamaica, with the most cases in Kingston and St. Andrew, St. Thomas, St. Catherine, Portland, and St. James. The U.S. Embassy in Kingston issued a health alert, advising travelers and residents to take precautions.
September 1 – From September 1, visitors to Jamaica must submit an online immigration form
Whether they are visitors or residents of Jamaica, the Immigration/Customs Form (C5) is a new requirement for entry starting Sep. 1.
Andrew Wynter, Chief Executive Officer of PICA, explained at an Aug. 30 JIS think tank that the online form is a digital version of the original paper document.
“The Online Passenger Declaration or C5 form is what you would normally get in the paper format from the airline to fill out when returning to Jamaica. With the online form, passengers will now be able to submit that application ahead of their travel, and they can do it up to 30 days before they return to Jamaica,” Wynter informed.
Visitors can complete the form by going to www.enterjamaica.com
U.S. Updates Jamaica Travel Warning to Level 3 Due To Recent Crime Surge
The U.S. State Department’s latest travel advisory urges citizens to reconsider their plans to visit Jamaica due to concerns about crime.
According to the updated Level 3 advisory, the U.S. government has forbidden its personnel from traveling to numerous areas in Jamaica due to heightened risks. The advisory emphasizes the prevalence of violent crimes, including home invasions, armed robberies, sexual assaults, and homicides. It further highlights that incidents of sexual assault, including those occurring at all-inclusive resorts, are distressingly common.
Do not travel to these areas:
Violence and shootings occur regularly in the following areas:
Areas of Clarendon Parish – Level 4: Do Not Travel
- All of Clarendon Parish, except passing through Clarendon Parish using the T1 and A2 highways.
Areas of Hanover Parish – Level 4: Do Not Travel
- Logwood and Orange Bay
Areas of Kingston and St. Andrew Parish – Level 4: Do Not Travel
- Cassava Piece
- Downtown Kingston, defined as between Mountain View Avenue and Hagley Park Road, and south of Half Way Tree and Old Hope Roads. Downtown Kingston includes Arnett Gardens, Cockburn Gardens, Denham Town, Olympic Gardens, Seaview Gardens, Trench Town, and Tivoli Gardens.
- Duhaney Park
- Grants Pen
- Standpipe
- Swallowfield
- Elleston Flats
- August Town
Areas of Montego Bay – Level 4: Do Not Travel
- Canterbury
- Flankers
- Glendevon
- Mount Salem
- Norwood
- Paradise Heights
- Rose Heights
Areas of St. Ann Parish – Level 4: Do Not Travel
- Steer Town
Areas of St. Catherine Parish – Level 4: Do Not Travel
- Spanish Town
- Central Village
- Certain areas within Portmore to include: Naggo Head, New Land, Old Braeton, and Waterford
Areas of St. James Parish – Level 4: Do Not Travel
- Violence and shootings occur regularly in some areas of St. James Parish. Do not travel to the following areas:
- Cambridge
- Springmount
- Johns Hall
Areas of Westmoreland Parish – Level 4: Do Not Travel
- Russia community in Savanna-la-Mar (The Southeastern quadrant of Savannah la Mar east of Darling Street and south of the A2 highway/Barracks Road)
- The Whitehall neighborhood of east Negril
Visit this website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.
Some concerns involve the country’s high rates of violent crime and homicide.
Although people who intend to travel to Jamaica should be aware of travel advisories, they can look up the specific details about the warning on the U.S. Department of State website. The advisory identifies specific high-risk areas in the parishes of Clarendon, Hanover, Kingston, St. Andrew, Montego Bay, St. Ann, St. Catherine, St. James and Westmoreland.
Travelers who decide to visit Jamaica should avoid those areas completely. But that doesn’t mean that all of Jamaica isn’t safe.
Canada and Australia advise their citizens to exercise high caution when visiting Jamaica instead of suggesting that they should reconsider travel. Also, Montego Bay was rated one of the most popular destinations for American vacationers in the summer of 2022.
The risk of crime at all-inclusive resorts and their surrounding areas is quite low. Travelers should exercise caution in any tourist-heavy region, using reputable travel companies, keeping valuables in their hotel safe and avoiding walking alone, especially at night.
The four-tier travel advisory system was launched in January 2018 to better help American travelers identify high-risk travel areas and understand the precautions that they should take. The U.S. issued or updated more than 100 travel advisories for major tourist destinations, including Japan, France and Italy, in October.
The post Is JAMAICA Safe? Travel Advisory 2024 appeared first on Traveling Lifestyle.
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By: Luka Trcek
Title: Is JAMAICA Safe? Travel Advisory 2024
Sourced From: www.travelinglifestyle.net/jamaica-still-considered-safe-destination-despite-recent-u-s-travel-warnings/
Published Date: Thu, 04 Jan 2024 13:32:51 +0000
