The U.S. Department of State has recently released its updated travel advisories for international travel, highlighting specific vacation spots, including Jamaica, that have raised concerns.
The following destinations were issued a level 2 travel advisory, warning travellers to exercise increased caution.
Crime is the main concern in Jamaica, as the Department of State notes that the U.S. Embassy routinely receives reports of sexual assaults. The homicide rate, as reported by the Government of Jamaica, is “among the highest in the Western Hemisphere,” officials claim.
The Department of State is warning travelers of political unrest, natural disasters, and a risk of terrorism for much of the country. A level 4 advisory has even been issued for Central Papua and Highland Papua, as officials claim armed separatist groups have kidnapped foreigners in isolated incidents.
The travel advisory was issued for Saint Lucia due to crime risks. The advisory states: “U.S. citizens and other foreigners in Saint Lucia have been victims of armed robbery, assault, burglary, and rape. In some cases, U.S. citizens have been killed.” The advisory also notes that, aside from petty crime, guests staying at tourist resorts have been victims of violent crimes.
Similar to Saint Lucia, the travel advisory was issued due to crime. The advisory states that most crimes against foreigners include purse snatching and pickpocketing; however, there have also been reports of sexual assaults.
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