Jamaica ‘safe’ despite upsurge in violence and state of emergency, tourism minister insists
Jamaica remains safe for visitors, according to the island’s tourism minister.
Edmund Bartlett was responding to the Foreign Office warning to British tourists in the Montego Bay area, urging them to remain within gated, guarded compounds except on hotel-operated excursions or airport transfers.
The UK’s new travel advice followed the declaration of a “State of Public Emergency” in the parish of St James, which includes Montego Bay.
The Jamaica Defence Force has moved in against organised crime to quell an upsurge in violence, fuelled by fighting over drugs, illegal weapons and lottery scams that target elderly people in the US.
Mr Bartlett said: “These enhanced security measures are not out of the ordinary in international tourism markets and therefore would be understood by visitors and welcomed by residents.
“All members of the tourism fraternity have given their full support to the measure and are feeling that these actions are welcome to ensure the safety of Jamaica’s guests and citizens.”
He appeared to contradict the advice from the UK for holidaymakers to stay in their hotels by saying: “There is no need to modify movements as restrictions in the stated areas should not adversely impact law abiding persons.”
A record number of tourists visited Jamaica in 2017: 4.3 million, of whom around 200,000 are from Britain. Official figures assert that one in 10,000 visitors suffers a crime; that indicates around 20 UK tourists last year fell victim.
Some British holidaymakers on the island say that the restrictions are unnecessary. Lauren Adams tweeted: “I’m in Montego Bay at the moment and you wouldn’t know there was anything going on if it wasn’t for the news.”
Loretta Martinelli tweeted: “In Jamaica travelling around. In Kingston right now and moving toward MBJ [Montego Bay] soon. Having a great time. Just street aware like everywhere else.”
One past visitor, Andrew Manzi from Hertfordshire, said of the new travel advice: “The shame of it is, the real pleasure of travelling is to actually immerse oneself in the culture and learn from it. But with these current problems, travellers are just going to stay in their resorts and not really experience the country they are visiting.”
