US Softens Language on Crime in Updated Jamaica Travel Advisory

• The U.S. State Department updated its travel advisory for Jamaica last week, maintaining the Level 3 status but softening its language on crime, noting that “tourist areas generally see lower rates of violent crime than other parts of the country.”
• In the latest advisory, the previous statement about sexual assaults occurring “frequently, including at all-inclusive resorts,” has been removed. Now, it states that the U.S. Embassy “routinely receives reports of sexual assaults, including from U.S. citizen tourists at resorts.”
• The State Department also included new information about medical preparedness. “U.S. citizens should not expect the same level of health care available in Jamaica as is available in the United States. This includes generally lower levels of emergency service response times or routine care for illness or injury,” the advisory states.
• The update on Jamaica is routine, as the State Department reviews travel advisories at Level 3 and above every six months.
• The reissued advisory was met with significant opposition. Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Sandals Resorts International Chairman Adam Stewart denounced the advisory's portrayal of Jamaica, while Jamaica's U.S. Ambassador, Audrey Marks, called on U.S. officials to retract their evaluation.
• The most recent advisory strongly recommends that American travellers obtain travel insurance with medical evacuation coverage before visiting Jamaica. The ongoing Level 3 advisory suggests that U.S. citizens reconsider travel, which is one step below Level 4, where U.S. citizens would be advised against travelling to Jamaica.