The U.S. has made some major updates to its travel advisories, including “Do Not Travel” warnings for several countries this summer. Some of the alerts have been criticized online, especially amid the Trump administration’s travel ban that might soon include the world’s most positive country. While most advisories address serious threats like terrorism and civil unrest, some warnings have been deemed as normal risks present in every country. That was the case when the U.S. recently raised its travel advisory on a famous vacation spot.

The Dominican Republic, which is the most visited Caribbean nation, was hit with a Level 2 warning due to crime. This comes months after an American college student, Sudiksha Konanki, went missing during spring break in Punta Cana, DR. Many residents and tourists don’t agree with the new U.S. travel advisory for the Dominican Republic. However, it does highlight common safety mistakes that travelers make while traveling to the islands.

Read on to learn about the increased warnings, how to stay safe while traveling to the Dominican Republic, and why this country remains the most popular Caribbean vacation.

U.S. Travel Advisory For Top Travel Spot

klenger/Shutterstock U.S. and Dominican Republic flags

On June 12, 2025, the U.S. Department of State updated its Level 2 travel advisory for the Dominican Republic, which advises American travelers to “exercise increased caution” due to crime. The warning cited violent crime as a concern in the Caribbean nation “despite more police presence in areas often visited by tourists.” It also emphasized that both locals and tourists are at risk of falling victim to robbery, homicide, and sexual assault in the Dominican Republic. The advisory then noted that criminals there “are rarely caught and prosecuted.”

Longtime visitors and residents were quick to slam the advisory update. On a Facebook guide group for Dominican Republic travel, many argued that walking the streets in the U.S. is still more dangerous. To be fair, Level 2 only reminds U.S. citizens about “heightened risks to safety and security,” a moderate recommendation compared to Level 3’s “Reconsider Travel” and Level 4’s “Do Not Travel.” The Dominican Republic has been under Level 2 travel advisory for a while, alongside other popular destinations like Panama, the Netherlands, the Philippines, and even the United Kingdom.

The Canadian government also released a Level 2 advisory for the Dominican Republic, which urges Canadians to “exercise a high degree of caution” while traveling there. Aside from violent crime, the warning also listed petty crimes that may occur both inside and outside resorts, fraud, poor road conditions, and public transportation. Locals and experienced tourists have spoken about these minor hazards, particularly the security issues with booking taxis to get around the cities. But they’re totally avoidable with proper planning and adequate research on the places you want to visit.

Travel Safety Tips In A Level 2 Destination

The State Department listed a few safety tips to avoid any trouble while visiting the Dominican Republic. First is to stay vigilant of your surroundings, especially in crowded areas or open streets. As in any popular vacation spot, avoid taking out your phone at tourist sites, don’t carry or wear flashy valuable items, travel with a buddy or in a group as much as possible, and don’t leave your food or drinks unattended or in strangers’ care.

In case of emergencies, tourists in the Dominican Republic can reach out to the following:

911 emergency reponse system

Professional tourist police force (POLITUR)

Private security personnel in resorts

Many hotels and resorts strongly advise guests not to leave the property limits. While this may sound a bit much, it’s best to stay within these secure spaces, especially if it’s your first time in the Dominican Republic. It can be appealing to wander around, but it also makes you an easy target for pickpocketers and criminals. When it comes to booking taxis, experts suggest only using Uber or reputable local taxi companies. The U.S. embassy also warned against renting motorcycle taxis or “motoconchos” for your safety.

Before making arrangements for your trip to the Dominican Republic, make sure to study its culture and norms first. That way, you get a clearer idea of the challenges you may face during your vacation. Understanding the local ways and traditions can also make your visit smoother. That includes awareness of political sensitivities, like the country’s relations with Haiti, and learning basic Spanish phrases for respectful and easier communications.

Why This Remains The Caribbean’s Most Visited Spot

The tourism rates of the Dominican Republic are proof that the U.S. Level 2 travel advisory shouldn’t stop you from booking that island getaway. It remains the most visited country in the Caribbean, seeing 34.2 million international tourist arrivals in 2024—a 6.1% increase from the previous year. From January to June 2024 alone, 48% of the Dominican Republic’s non-resident arrivals were from the U.S., followed by Canadian travelers. However, the Dominican Republic is seeing a decline in North American tourist arrivals in 2025.

Between January to April 2025, the arrival of American tourists dropped by 5.12% from the same period last year, along with a 4.43% decrease in Canadian visitors. DR’s Ministry of Tourism said these are caused by seasonal factors such as the leap year and varied Holy Week celebrations in March 2025. But South Americans are now taking over the market, with 434,352 tourists coming to the Dominican Republic in just the first four months of 2025. That’s a promising 31.3% growth from the same months in 2024.

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Despite the not-really-new warnings about violent crime, petty crimes, and sexual assault risks in the Dominican Republic, it remains a sought-after vacation. Its pristine beaches, vibrant culture, pleasant climate, relatively affordable prices, and straightforward entry requirements are simply the perfect combination for a stress-free retreat.

While the U.S. government encourages travelers to take care of their personal safety when visiting the Caribbean gem, the Dominican Republic is fully equipped to protect its visitors. It has reliable security personnel at local tourist attractions, as well as its world-class hotels and resorts.