The US State Department has renewed its Level 2 travel advisory for the Bahamas, urging American visitors to exercise increased caution. The warning matters because it highlights the risk of violent crime in a major holiday destination, including incidents that may affect tourists as well as residents.

Officials cited violent crime, burglaries, sexual assaults and armed robberies, saying such offences can occur anywhere in the Bahamas. Level 2 is the second-lowest of the department’s four advisory levels, meaning travellers are not advised to avoid the country but should take additional safety precautions.