Tourism Minister, Edmund Bartlett said travel advisories issued by Jamaica’s tourism partners impose a responsibility on Jamaicans to manage their spaces better.

A travel advisory issued by the United States on May 10, listed Jamaica at level 3. It urged Americans to reconsider travelling to the island.

In its summary of Jamaica, the U-S warned that violent crimes, such as home invasions, armed robberies, sexual assaults, and homicides are common.

It said sexual assaults occur frequently, including at all-inclusive resorts.

Other warnings include that local police often do not respond effectively to serious criminal incidents.

Speaking at a workshop for the development of a tourism strategy for Jamaica at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in St. James this morning (June 2), Mr Bartlett said travel advisories are often used as weapons or guides.

He stressed that a country has a responsibility to warn its citizens about their safety.

He noted that Jamaica has to use the information from the advisories to ensure that it provides the destination assurance it markets.