The US State Department updated its advisory for American travelers in the Bahamas.
They are warned to ‘exercise increased caution’ due to rising levels of violent crime.
Perpetrators and victims are mostly locals but State Department officials say ‘burglaries, armed robberies, and sexual assaults occur in both tourist and non-tourist areas.’
It urges tourists to take extra care ‘when staying at short-term vacation rentals where private security companies do not have a presence.’
“Gang-on-gang violence has resulted in a high homicide rate,” the advisory said.
High crime areas including Nassau and across New Providence, and Grand Bahama.
The State Department updated its advisory but hasn’t changed the advisory level from its previous update.
The US Embassy in Nassau noted a spate of murders so far this year, which are mostly down to gang violence.
Still, ‘the US Embassy is not aware of any US citizens who have been affected.’
Prime Minister Philip Davis told local news outlet The Tribune that he doesn’t expect the travel warning will impact tourism.
