The United States government has defended its stance on the recent travel advisory for Jamaica, emphasizing the priority of safeguarding its citizens’ safety and fulfilling its obligation to provide relevant information.
In a statement posted on its social media platforms, the US Embassy in Kingston clarified that the advisory, updated on January 23, was issued independently, without correlation to any other events. It emphasized that the advisory level remained consistent at Level 3, unchanged since March 2022.
The advisory update “incorporated analysis of accidents, illnesses, and deaths of US citizens based on a review of health services and the medical care received when US citizens are hospitalised,” the embassy said.
Recognizing Jamaica’s significance as a prominent tourist destination for US citizens, the embassy affirmed its commitment to collaborating with the Jamaican government and local stakeholders to ensure the welfare of US citizens and support the well-being of Jamaicans.
Underlining the US Department of State’s primary focus on the safety and security of its citizens abroad, the embassy underscored its responsibility to disseminate pertinent information through travel advisories to US citizens traveling or residing overseas.
Prime Minister questions timing
In an interview earlier this week with Travel Weekly alongside Sandals Resorts CEO Adam Stewart, Prime Minister Andrew Holness weighed in on the advisory, questioning the content and timing.
“This came out of left field,” Holness said. “It runs counter to the story of Jamaica in the last five years. It is not supported by the trend in statistics.”
In 2023, the island saw approximately 4.1 million visitor arrivals, a 16 percent increase over the previous year’s numbers and a 7.5 percent increase over 2019’s pre-pandemic numbers. Of this total, more than half of the island’s visitors are from the U.S. alone at approximately 3 million.
The crime statistics also paint a glowing picture: Holness said serious crime was down by 11% last year, murders down by 8%, rapes down 15%. Across the board, he said, crime was at a 22-year low.
“The challenge we face is that everything that is said in the travel advisory runs counter to Jamaica’s story of recovery, to Jamaica’s story of coming to grips with the challenges of being a developing country.”
According to Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States, Audrey Marks, there has been a record number of visitor cancellations since the advisory was published and urged the US government to reconsider.
