Kingston, Jamaica, March 28, 2025 – United States (US) Secretary of State, Hon. Marco Rubio, has pledged his Government’s commitment to re-evaluate travel advisories that have been issued for Jamaica.
He was responding to comments made by Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, during a joint press conference at the Office of the Prime Minister today (March 26), following bilateral talks.
Dr. Holness said that travel advisories must “reflect the current realities and promote travel” to the island.
He noted that Jamaica, today, is safer than at any time in the last two decades.
“In fact, crimes against visitors represent less than 0.01 per cent of the more than three million visitors to Jamaica annually,” he said.
Secretary Rubio agreed, noting that the travel advisories, which are safety precautions for American citizens, will reflect “the reality of the new numbers”.
In 2024, Jamaica recorded a 19 per cent reduction in murders, following a seven per cent decline in 2023.
Since 2024, the country has seen a sustained decline in murders. There were 47 murders in February 2025, the lowest monthly total in 25 years, reflecting a 43 per cent reduction compared to February 2024. Between February 2022 and February 2025, murders have declined by 55 per cent.
“Governments have two primary responsibilities – the safety and prosperity of their people – and your Prime Minister and his Government is very focused on those two priorities,” Secretary Rubio said.
“We did talk about tourism because, obviously, it is a significant part of your economy, and we pledge that we were going to go back and re-evaluate the travel advisories as they currently stand, to ensure that they do reflect the reality of the new numbers… because you have made very impressive progress in your general numbers overall when it comes to the murder rate and so forth,” he said.
Secretary Rubio commended the improvements made in reducing the country’s crime figures.
“The progress you have already made this year and made last year, year over year… I think, is one of the highest numbers in terms of reductions that we have seen of any country in the region,” he pointed out.
In an interview with JIS News, Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, welcomed the “very positive response that the Secretary gave with regard to the review of the travel advisory status of Jamaica”.
“It is a fact that we have performed in terms of the improved security and safety arrangements. We do have an enviable record of visitor safety. There are issues, of course, and we never shy away from that knowledge, but we are working on it, ” he said.
He said the review will “impact a whole segment of the [American] population,” who will now be more encouraged to visit Jamaica.
Contact: Chris Patterson
Release: JIS
