US lowers Jamaica travel advisory to Level 2 after Hurricane Melissa

The United States has lowered its travel advisory for Jamaica to Level 2, according to an update issued on Saturday.

While the advisory level was reduced from Level 3, U.S. officials noted that there were no changes to the underlying risk indicators, which continue to include concerns related to crime, health, and natural disasters.

The updated advisory also reflects changes to the summary language, emphasizing that some areas of the island carry a higher risk than others and that travelers should review the full advisory before visiting.

The advisory highlights Jamaica’s ongoing recovery from Hurricane Melissa, which made landfall on October 28, 2025, causing extensive damage, particularly in the western parishes. While all major airports have since reopened to commercial traffic, some communities continue to face post-storm challenges affecting infrastructure and essential services.

Areas such as Black River and Montego Bay remain in varying stages of recovery, and travelers are urged to exercise increased caution when visiting these locations. U.S. officials also recommend confirming the availability of accommodations, transportation, and other services before traveling.

In December last year, Tourism Minister Ed Bartlett addressed the Level 3 advisory, saying that any Category 5 disaster would trigger caution among source markets. He said he was optimistic that advisory levels would ease.

“The very thought of a Category 5 hitting anywhere and its consequences would evoke an immediate level of caution by any country,” Bartlett said then. “But the reality is those levels will change with circumstances. The fact that we have shown that level of resilience and have had a recovery that is phenomenal — that the World Bank is saying they have never seen any country recover this fast — all of this has its impact.”

Jamaica remains one of the Caribbean’s most popular destinations, and the downgrade to Level 2 places it in the same category as several other countries where travelers are advised to remain alert but not avoid travel altogether.