According to statistics, the roughly 28 million tourists that travel to the Caribbean each year are rarely victims of violent crime. Furthermore, the majority of violent reports come from locations with low tourist traffic.
The U.S. State Department has updated its travel advisories for these three countries:
Cuba – Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Exercise increased caution in Cuba due to crime.
Petty crime poses a risk to tourists in Cuba. Additionally, instances of violent crime, such as armed robbery and homicide, can occasionally occur.
For U.S. Embassy employees, traveling beyond the Havana area necessitates a specific notification process, potentially impacting the Embassy’s ability to offer emergency assistance to U.S. citizens in Cuba.
If you choose to travel to Cuba:
- Stay attentive to your surroundings.
- Refrain from resisting any robbery attempts.
- Avoid showcasing signs of affluence, such as wearing expensive watches or jewelry.
- Register for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive alerts and facilitate locating you in case of an emergency.
Jamaica – Level 3: Reconsider Travel
Due to crime and lack of medical services, reconsider travel, says Jamaica Travel Advisory 2024.
Traveling to many areas is prohibited for U.S. government personnel under Chief of Mission (COM) security responsibility due to increased risk, which limits their ability to assist U.S. citizens in need.
Home invasions, armed robberies, sexual assaults, and homicides are examples of violent crimes that frequently occur. Sexual assaults happen all the time, even in all-inclusive resorts.
Serious criminal incidents frequently receive inadequate responses from local police. Cases are rarely prosecuted to a definitive sentence after an arrest. Families of American citizens killed in accidents or murders frequently have to wait a year or longer for Jamaican authorities to issue official death certificates.
Bahamas – Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
The US State Department updated its Bahamas travel advisory last Friday, advising Americans to “exercise increased caution”.
The advisory notes that gang-on-gang violence has led to a high homicide rate that is primarily affecting the local population, specifically mentioning the most affected islands, Grand Bahama, which is home to Freeport, and New Providence, where Nassau is located.
“Violent crime, such as burglaries, armed robberies, and sexual assaults, occur in both tourist and non-tourist areas. Be vigilant when staying at short-term vacation rental properties where private security companies do not have a presence.”
“We can confirm that one person was killed on the island of New Providence and at least 18 in Nassau since the start of the year,” the State Department said in a statement to CNN on Tuesday. “But the U.S. Embassy in Nassau is not aware of any U.S. citizens who have been affected.”
