The Jamaican authorities has welcomed america’ choice to revise its journey advisory for the island from Stage 3 to Level 2, marking a major improve that urges US residents to train excessive warning relatively than rethink journey altogether. The earlier advisory had cautioned People in opposition to touring to Jamaica resulting from considerations over crime and healthcare.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness praised the revision in a press release on Thursday, saying, “This revision displays the exhausting work of our safety forces and authorities businesses. We’ve got been deliberate and data-driven in our strategy to decreasing crime and bettering the security of our folks. Jamaica stays one of the crucial vibrant and welcoming locations on the earth, and we’re happy that our progress is being recognised.”
Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett additionally expressed optimism, noting, “It is a vote of confidence in model Jamaica. Our tourism trade is constructed on security, excellence and world-class service. The up to date advisory will strengthen traveller confidence and additional place Jamaica as a high vacation spot for leisure, enterprise and funding.”
International Affairs and International Commerce Minister Senator Kamina Johnson Smith highlighted the significance of worldwide cooperation, stating, “We’ve got maintained open and constructive dialogue with our worldwide companions, together with america, and this end result demonstrates the worth of that collaboration. Jamaica stays dedicated to sustaining worldwide requirements of security and transparency in all our engagements.”
The revision follows a go to by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in March, throughout which he committed to reviewing the Level 3 advisory.
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Rubio acknowledged Jamaica’s progress in crime discount, saying, “We pledged to return and reevaluate the journey advisories as they at present stand to make sure that they do mirror the truth of the brand new numbers, since you’ve made spectacular progress in your common numbers general in the case of the homicide fee and so forth. We have to analyze that and simply be certain that the standing we’re at present in precisely displays and takes into consideration the progress you’ve already made this 12 months and final 12 months, which is likely one of the highest numbers when it comes to discount that we’ve seen within the area.”
Whereas the US Authorities notes that violent crime stays statistically excessive in Jamaica, it factors out that vacationer areas typically expertise decrease charges of violent crime than different components of the nation.
Murders have dropped to their lowest stage in 34 years, with the primary quarter of 2025 recording a 43.3% discount in comparison with final 12 months, 210 fewer lives misplaced.
The Jamaica Constabulary Power studies that the primary quarter noticed the bottom variety of murders since measuring started in… pic.twitter.com/P4cfpTFunZ
— Andrew Holness (@AndrewHolnessJM) May 29, 2025
The announcement comes amid Jamaica’s ongoing celebration of a major decline in murders. Prime Minister Holness wrote on X (previously Twitter) that “Murders have dropped to their lowest stage in 34 years, with the primary quarter of 2025 recording a 43.3% discount in comparison with final 12 months, 210 fewer lives misplaced. The Jamaica Constabulary Power studies that the primary quarter noticed the bottom variety of murders since measuring started in 2001, and the second quarter is on monitor to proceed this downward development.”
