The Bahamas is a “secure” destination for tourists, the country’s government insisted this week after the US embassy sounded the alarm over deadly gang violence in the holiday hotspot.
Bahamian Prime Minister Philip Davis said in a Tuesday statement the federal government is “alert, attentive, and proactive” in keeping the island nation “welcoming” to travelers, based on the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Davis’ comments got here after the US embassy issued a stark security warning and travel advisory on Jan. 24 after the Bahamas saw 18 primarily gang-related murders in January.
“The rating of the Bahamas has not modified; we remain a Level 2 alongside most tourism destinations,” Davis reportedly said in his statement.
“The incidents described within the January 2024 US Embassy crime alert don’t reflect general safety in The Bahamas, a rustic of sixteen (16) tourism destinations, and lots of more islands.”
The Bahamas has been rated a Level 2 since 2022 and was first assigned a level in 2018, based on the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
The US embassy warning urged travelers to “exercise extreme caution” on the eastern side of the Bahamas’ capital city of Nassau.
It also advised Americans to be especially vigilant at nighttime and “keep a low profile” at all times.
Davis said the federal government is implementing a “robust and revolutionary crime prevention strategy” — including additional police resources and a zero-tolerance policy for firearm possession, based on the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
The Royal Bahamas Police Force said it collected nine firearms and 1,500 rounds of ammunition last week.
Despite the rise in crime, the Bahamas is more popular than ever amongst tourists, because the tropical island saw greater than eight million visitors last yr, based on Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper.
“The yr 2023 was a banner yr in tourism,” Cooper said at an event in Florida.
