Canada Issues Advisory For Citizens Traveling To Jamaica

A warning to exercise caution. The official travel advisory platform for the Canadian government has issued a warning to its citizens concerning travel to Jamaica. Tourists are warned to take a high degree of caution after noting several threats they may encounter upon their arrival.

This all while, Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his family vacationed on the island over the Christmas holiday. The warning comes on the heels of Prime Minister Andrew Holness declaring yet another State of Public Emergency in several parishes which have also been listed on the website as places to either stay away from or visit with caution.

The Canadian authorities say these communities are known for having existing high levels of violent crimes, to include armed robbery and murder. The advisory notes this as a problem in large cities and tourist hubs, including sections of Kingston and Montego Bay, despite the presence of police to counter criminal activity.

And while there is no blatant warning for tourists to desist from traveling to Jamaica, the caution opposes the praises that saw tourists flocking to the island in record numbers, this summer. It also went further alerting tourists to claims of sexual assault at local resorts, which they cite as carried out by resort staff and by other tourists, adding, women traveling alone are often harassed.

The authorities warned their citizens about instances of tourists having their food or drinks spiked, with drugs that could put them at risk of such sexual assault and robbery. Road safety concerns are also being highlighted, as they describe Jamaican drivers as commonly driving under the influence of marijuana or alcohol. Meanwhile, destination Jamaica is no stranger to such advisories over the years and many stakeholders believe they do little to limit the country’s tourism product.

Watch the full report here:

Reporter: Nasika Alliman