State Department Issues Bahamas Travel Advisory
The United States Department of State issued an updated travel advisory for The Bahamas earlier this week. It is now telling tourists heading to the Caribbean island nation to exercise “increased caution” due to crime.
The advisory remains at Level 2, but government officials are warning travelers about potential violent crimes that have become more common in tourist areas, including burglaries, armed robberies and sexual assault.
The warning applied to areas such as New Providence and Grand Bahama islands, where U.S. government officials are no longer permitted to visit the Sand Trap area in Nassau due to crime. This includes the very popular Fish Fry that Mark’s wife recently went to when staying at the Hilton downtown.
Lack of safety certifications and proper maintenance of commercial recreational watercraft such as jet-skis makes them a possibly dangerous attraction for tourists. Jet-ski operators have also been known to commit sexual assaults against tourists. Those visiting the islands, they are being asked to exercise caution in the area known as Over the Hill and the Fish Fry at Arawak Cay in Nassau, especially at night.
Here’s the full Bahamas Travel Advisory:
Exercise increased caution in The Bahamas due to crime.
Violent crime, such as burglaries, armed robberies, and sexual assault, is common, even during the day and in tourist areas. Although the family islands are not crime-free, the vast majority of crime occurs on New Providence and Grand Bahama islands. U.S. government personnel are not permitted to visit the Sand Trap area in Nassau due to crime. Activities involving commercial recreational watercraft, including water tours, are not consistently regulated. Watercraft are often not maintained, and many companies do not have safety certifications to operate in The Bahamas. Jet-ski operators have been known to commit sexual assaults against tourists. As a result, U.S. government personnel are not permitted to use jet-ski rentals on New Providence and Paradise Islands.
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This is nothing new for the islands been going for 35 years. Frankly the warning really applies to many of the island in the Caribbean caution caution. Sexual assault is everywhere in the islands. Maintenance on the boats and equipment poof
I have been to Nassau a few times and never felt unsafe. Everyone has always been very welcoming, especially in the fish fry area.
I visited there for a few hours thirty years ago, added on to a visit to Miami. I was a young man and found the hustles very distasteful back then. Sounds like nothing has changed.
Jump to conclusions much?
People hawking nick knacks with aggressive selling happens everywhere in the Caribbean really. The key is to play along and work them down – think of it like a game and it can be kind of fun.
Missing a word in the title. Destination, perhaps?