The U.S. State Department has just downgraded its travel advisory for Jamaica’s popular Caribbean cruise destination.
The easing comes after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Jamaica earlier this spring. During his visit, Rubio vowed to “rethink travel alerts to reflect the reality of the latest crime statistics.”
Travel consultation down to level 2
Jamaican tourism officials have long urged the United States to reconsider. Now, the United States has Reduced travel consultation From “Level 3 – Retrospective Travel” to “Level 2 – Sports Cautious Improvement”.
It cites the overall decline in the national homicide rate, although the homicide rate in the region is relatively high. There are still high rates of robbery and sexual assault, but areas frequented by tourists tend to be safer.
“Don’t Travel” warning is still a specific high-crime area
Even though the entire destination has seen its level of consultation, the State Department has cite several communities that should be left to American travelers and cruise guests.
These are Level 4 “No Travel” consultations, which are the highest risk levels:
St. Ann Parish – Steer Town and Buckfield near Ocho Rios.
Parish of St. Catherine – Spanish towns, central villages, areas within Portmore, including: Naggo Head, New Land, Old Braeton, Portmore Lane, Gregory Park and Waterford.
Clarendon Parish – Except for the use of the T1 and A2 highways, all Clarendon parishes were excluded.
St. Elizabeth Parish – The vineyard community is between the Salt Springs and the Burnt Savanna in St. Elizabeth.
Hannover Parish – logwood and Orange Bay.
Parish of St James/Montego Bay – The inland side of the A1 motorway and the Queen from San San to Harmony Beach Park.
Kingston and St Andrew’s Parish – Cassava pieces, Duhani Park, Grant Pen, Standing, Sherolfield, Elstonfield, Augustonfield and downtown Kingston, defined between Mountain View and Hagley Park Road, and the south of the Midway Trees and Old Hope Road. Downtown Kingston includes Arnett Gardens, Cockburn Gardens, Denham Town, Olympic Gardens, Seaview Gardens, Ditch Town and Tivoli Gardens.
Manchester Diocese – Green valley and grey ground.
Parish of St. Thomas – Seaforth in the Grands Penn near the Yallahs in the town, Black Lane in Seaforth, except driving on the main highway.
Trelawny Parish – Clark Town.
Westmoreland Parish – The Russian community in Savannah-la-Mar (southeast quadrant of Savannah-la-Mar), the Red Ground community in Darling Street, the A2 Highway/Barracks Road, the Morgan Bay, Kings Valley, Whitehall, Bethel, Bethel Town and Negril.
Warn visitors
In addition, Americans are advised to avoid walking or driving at night, not taking public buses, and avoid traveling to remote areas.
Nor should they try to fight back against any attempts to loot. The consultation also reminds cruisers and other visitors about standards for health care and emergency response times.
It said: “This includes slower emergency services and care that reduces disease or injury.
“When the crime occurs, U.S. citizens reported slow responses from law enforcement.”
