US lowers Jamaica travel alert level amid decline in crime rates

The Jamaican government has welcomed the United States’ decision to revise its travel advisory for the island from Level 3 to Level 2, marking a significant upgrade that urges US citizens to exercise extreme caution rather than reconsider travel altogether. The previous advisory had cautioned Americans against traveling to Jamaica due to concerns over crime and healthcare.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness praised the revision in a statement on Thursday, saying, “This revision reflects the hard work of our security forces and government agencies. We have been deliberate and data-driven in our approach to reducing crime and improving the safety of our people. Jamaica remains one of the most vibrant and welcoming destinations in the world, and we are pleased that our progress is being recognised.”

Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett also expressed optimism, noting, “This is a vote of confidence in brand Jamaica. Our tourism industry is built on safety, excellence and world-class service. The updated advisory will strengthen traveller confidence and further position Jamaica as a top destination for leisure, business and investment.”

Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister Senator Kamina Johnson Smith highlighted the importance of international cooperation, stating, “We have maintained open and constructive dialogue with our international partners, including the United States, and this outcome demonstrates the value of that collaboration. Jamaica remains committed to maintaining international standards of safety and transparency in all our engagements.”

The revision follows a visit by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in March, during which he committed to reviewing the Level 3 advisory.

Rubio acknowledged Jamaica’s progress in crime reduction, saying, “We pledged to go back and reevaluate the travel advisories as they currently stand to ensure that they do reflect the reality of the new numbers, because you’ve made impressive progress in your general numbers overall when it comes to the murder rate and so forth. We need to analyze that and just ensure that the status we’re currently in accurately reflects and takes into account the progress you’ve already made this year and last year, which is one of the highest numbers in terms of reduction that we’ve seen in the region.”

While the US Government notes that violent crime remains statistically high in Jamaica, it points out that tourist areas generally experience lower rates of violent crime than other parts of the country.

Murders have dropped to their lowest level in 34 years, with the first quarter of 2025 recording a 43.3% reduction compared to last year, 210 fewer lives lost.

The Jamaica Constabulary Force reports that the first quarter saw the lowest number of murders since measuring began in… pic.twitter.com/P4cfpTFunZ

— Andrew Holness (@AndrewHolnessJM) May 29, 2025

The announcement comes amid Jamaica’s ongoing celebration of a significant decline in murders. Prime Minister Holness wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that “Murders have dropped to their lowest level in 34 years, with the first quarter of 2025 recording a 43.3% reduction compared to last year, 210 fewer lives lost. The Jamaica Constabulary Force reports that the first quarter saw the lowest number of murders since measuring began in 2001, and the second quarter is on track to continue this downward trend.”