The United States Department of State has recently issued a Level 2 travel advisory for individuals planning to visit the Bahamas. The advisory, posted on Friday, urges travelers to “exercise increased caution,” particularly on the islands of New Providence (including Nassau) and Grand Bahama (including Freeport), due to concerns about crime.
A security alert from the U.S. Embassy in the Bahamas, posted last Wednesday, underscores the need for caution, noting that 18 murders have occurred in Nassau since the beginning of 2024. The alert highlights that these incidents have taken place at all hours, including broad daylight on the streets, with retaliatory gang violence identified as the primary motive for the murders.
The State Department advisory advises travelers to exercise “increased vigilance” in the “Over the Hill” area south of Shirley Street, where gang-related violence has resulted in a high homicide rate, primarily impacting the local population. The advisory emphasizes that violent crimes, such as burglaries, armed robberies, and sexual assaults, are prevalent in both tourist and non-tourist areas. Travelers are specifically cautioned to be vigilant when staying at short-term vacation rental properties without private security.
Furthermore, the advisory warns against engaging in activities involving commercial recreational watercraft, including water tours. It points out that such activities are not consistently regulated, and some watercraft may be poorly maintained, with operators lacking safety certifications. Due to safety concerns, U.S. government personnel are prohibited from using independently operated jet-ski rentals on New Providence and Paradise Islands.
The advisory also brings attention to potential shark-related incidents during swimming activities. Recent fatal and non-fatal incidents involving sharks have been reported.
For those planning to travel to the Bahamas, the State Department offers the following tips:
- Do not answer your door at your hotel/residence unless you know who it is.
- Do not physically resist any robbery attempt.
- Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) for alerts and emergency assistance.
- Follow the Department of State on social media for updates.
- Review the Country Security Report for the Bahamas.
- Prepare a contingency plan for emergency and medical situations, and review the Traveler’s Checklist.
- Refer to the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel.
In case of any assistance needed while in the Bahamas, U.S. citizens can contact the U.S. Embassy in Nassau via phone at 242-322-1181 or by email at ACSnassau@state.gov. Additional information is available on the embassy’s website.