FOREIGN BRIEFING

1 Jamaica

Jamaica extended its state of emergency last week, despite the capture and extradition of an accused drug lord whose manhunt had spawned deadly violence last month in the Jamaican capital of Kingston.

In May, authorities had sent hundreds of police and soldiers into slums to arrest accused drug and gun trafficker Christopher “ Dudus” Coke, whose extradition has been requested by U.S. prosecutors. During four days of violence, more than 70 people were killed, and hundreds were detained by the armed forces.

Coke, the “don” or neighborhood boss of the Tivoli Gardens slum, was finally captured Tuesday. He waived his right to an extradition hearing in Jamaica and was to leave for the U.S. late last week.

Kingston is about 50 miles from Ocho Rios and about 112 miles from Montego Bay, tourist resorts that are in the northern part of the island. Jamaican authorities, however, are worried that that the tourism industry could lose an estimated $350 million in anticipated visitor spending this year and have launched a $10-million public relations campaign to win back the confidence of international visitors. It is focused on the U.S., which sends 70% of such visitors, said Donnie Dawson of the Jamaica Tourist Board.

Flights to Kingston that were canceled in the initial days of the emergency have been restored, and several resorts are offering discounts to lure tourists, Dawson added.

With 2.8 million foreign visitors a year, including cruise ship stopovers, Jamaica is the third most popular Caribbean destination after the Dominican Republic and Cuba.

— Chris Kraul

2 Israel

Thousands of tourists flocked to the shores of the Dead Sea to view Israel Opera’s outdoor staging of Giuseppe Verdi’s “Nabucco,” starring soprano Jessye Norman. Officials said there are plans to stage Verdi’s “Aida” next year, with hopes of making the venue a permanent fixture on the world’s opera festival calendar.

— Reuters

3 Argentina

Ernesto “Che” Guevara fought to overthrow the capitalist elite. But after death, the revolutionary has spawned his own tourism industry. The latest entry is a three-country historic “Che Trail” planned for Argentina, Cuba and Bolivia, including sites where he was born, fought and died.

— Associated Press

4 Greece

Some hotels and tour operators dropped their prices, trying to win back tourists discouraged by reports of labor actions shutting down roads, archaeological sites and Athens’ cruise port. Workers were protesting government-imposed austerity measures with strikes and demonstrations.

— Associated Press

5 Russia

Authorities aim to build a $15-billion complex of five ski resorts in Russia’s North Caucasus region, where an Islamist insurgency claimed nearly 1,000 lives last year. Officials hope the resorts, dotted across the mountain range where the 2014 Winter Olympics will be staged, will bring tourism and employment to the impoverished area.

— Reuters

Caution spots

The State Department recently issued warnings or alerts for these areas:

Nepal, because of the security situation related to political violence and crime

Nigeria, because of kidnappings and other violent crime