Is The Bahamas Safe To Travel To Right Now

Exercise caution and be vigilant if you’re visiting the Bahamas.

Due to a recent crime wave, the U.S. State Department has issued a travel warning for anyone traveling to the popular tourist destination.

This week, the federal government released this statement: “Violent crime, such as burglaries, armed robberies, and sexual assault, is common, even during the day and in tourist areas.” There are four levels of advisory in the State Department’s warning system: Level 1 (“Exercise Caution”), Level 2 (“Exercise Increased Caution”), Level 3 (“Reconsider Travel”), and Level 4 (“Do Not Travel”). The advisory is designated as Level 2, which means “Exercise Increased Caution.”

According to the State Department’s official statement, tourists should be aware that there has been an increase of “Violent crime, such as burglaries, armed robberies, and sexual assault, is common, even during the day and in tourist areas.”

A portion of these incidents involved tourists. In February 2018, for example, a U.S. citizen was assaulted while jogging in Nassau (on the island of New Providence) in the early hours of the morning. Though she has helped by a passerby, the police have yet to find a suspect.

The State Department specifically warned visitors to stay vigilant when traveling to New Providence and the Grand Bahama islands as “the vast majority of crime” in the Caribbean country occurs there.

So, a big first step is to “exercise caution in the area known as ‘Over the Hill’ (south of Shirley Street) and the Fish Fry at Arawak Cay in Nassau, especially at night.” Also, recommends the State Department, don’t “physically resist any robbery attempt,” and “do not answer your door at your hotel/residence unless you know who it is.”

If you’re carrying a bag or a wallet, we recommend keeping it close at all times and, if you have the option, keep any jewelry in a hotel safe. Additionally, always lock your car and keep your passport and other forms of identification in a safe place. If you’re a woman traveling alone, do not walk unescorted at night (especially in the areas the State Department mentions), and consider dressing more conservatively to avoid unwanted attention.

The State Department also notes that tourists should be cautious if they’re partaking in any activities involving recreational watercrafts. Many companies don’t have safety certifications to operate their watercrafts, the Department said, therefore many of them aren’t properly maintained and “Jet-ski operators have been known to commit sexual assaults against tourists.”

Traveling anywhere else in the near future? Check out the State Department’s color-coded travel advisory map that they just rolled out last year.