Winter is on the way in the United States, and that means Americans will be looking to escape from the cold and snow that covers much of the country during the winter months. Even aside from holiday travel, when Americans travel domestically to see family and friends for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, there’s a big demand for travel to a warmer climate when the temperatures drop.
According to research from the Caribbean Touring Sector, 2024 was a busy travel year for the area. “The Caribbean tourism sector continued its robust recovery and expansion in 2024, with international tourist arrivals reaching an estimated 34.2 million, according to a new report from the Caribbean Tourism Organization,” they note in a report released in April 2025.
According to the statistics, the Dominican Republic kept its status as the Caribbean’s most visited destination in 2024, hosting 8.5 million tourists. Coming in right behind was Jamaica with 2.9 million tourists, followed by Cuba at 2.2 million, the Bahamas at 1.9 million, Aruba at 1.4 million and Puerto Rico at 1.0 million.
But, now, the U.S. State Department has updated its travel advisory for Jamaica, and it’s telling Americans to reconsider travel to the Caribbean hotspot. Even though the travel warning and advisory level is that same that it was last week, at a Level 3, the department said that they updated the advisory because of “changes to U.S. embassy operations and hurricane damage.”
The hurricane they’re referring to is Hurricane Melissa, which left at least 40 people dead and cause horrific devastation in the Caribbean. It hit Jamaica on October 28 as a Category 5 storm and brought 185 mph winds.
Hurricane Melissa’s Impact on Travel Advisory
The U.S. State Department told Americans in its Monday, Nov. 3 advisory that travelers should reconsider going to Jamaica, because of the risks associated to crime, health and now natural disaster. But, they added that the “U.S. Embassy in Kingston has resumed normal operations following Hurricane Melissa.”
“Consider rescheduling planned travel to Jamaica at this time,” the advisory says. “If you plan to travel, confirm availability with your transportation provider and at your destination before you leave.” The department ads that areas such as Black River and Montego Bay are in “varying stages of recovery from Hurricane Melissa. Until repairs are complete, fewer hotels and transportation options may be available” and that “services may also be limited.”
The good news is that, according to research from the U.S. State Department, violent crime in Jamaica has gone down since 2024, but they note that it is still “statistically high throughout the country.” Also, the “homicide rate reported by the Government of Jamaica is among the highest in the Western Hemisphere.”
So, those traveling to Jamacia are being told to reconsider their travel plans, and if they go, take some serious precautions.
Americans Cautioned on Travel to Beloved Vacation Destination
