Rising crime in the Bahamas led the State Department last week to issue an advisory to Americans thinking of traveling to the popular vacation spot.

U.S. officials issued the alert Friday due to gang violence and high rates of murder, burglaries, armed robberies and sexual assaults in Nassau.

Already in 2024, as of Monday, the island chain experienced 19 killings, though no foreigners were targeted, according to The Associated Press.

Tourists in short-term vacation rentals were warned specifically, as private security does not protect those properties.

Bahamian Prime Minister Philip Davis countered the alert, saying in The Nassau Guardian, “The Bahamas is a safe place to come. Continue to come.”

Mr. Davis’ office said in a statement, “In 2023, the Bahamas welcomed over 9 million visitors, a significant milestone for our nation. … The incidents described in the January 2024 U.S. Embassy crime alert do not reflect general safety in the Bahamas.”

While the alert focused on crime on the islands, U.S. officials also told tourists to exercise discretion when planning recreational activities.

“Watercraft may be poorly maintained, and some operators may not have safety certifications. … Commercial watercraft operators have discretion to operate their vessels regardless of weather forecasts; injuries and fatalities have occurred,” officials wrote.

• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.