Drawn by clear turquoise waters and miles of white-sand beaches, around seven million travelers visit the Bahamas each year, but a new warning about increased violence on the island nation has raised alarm over the safety of visiting there.
On Jan. 24, the U.S. Embassy in Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas, issued a security alert advising U.S. citizens “to be aware that 18 murders have occurred in Nassau since the beginning of 2024.
On Jan. 26, the State Department issued a travel advisory increasing the Bahamas’ security risk assessment from Level 1 (“Exercise normal precautions”) to Level 2 (“Exercise increased caution”).
Many tourism-reliant countries, including Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic, currently have Level 2 warnings, and most travelers experience safe and enjoyable vacations.
The tourism industry in the Bahamas contributes around 70 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce, and employs half the country’s work force.
Persons:
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Organizations:
U.S, Embassy, State Department, U.S . Department of Commerce
Locations:
Bahamas, Nassau, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic