Armenian Christian Heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh Faces Erasure Amid Tourism Push

Following Azerbaijan’s September 2023 military offensive, more than 100,000 ethnic Armenians fled Nagorno‑Karabakh for Armenia, with Armenia reporting that 42,500 refugees had arrived by September 27, 2023, representing about a third of the region’s pre‑conflict population. The International Court of Justice subsequently ordered Azerbaijan to allow those who wish to return to do so safely and without obstruction.

Researchers have documented widespread damage, destruction, and alteration of Armenian churches, monasteries, cemeteries and monuments in the area, noting that these sites are not merely historic remnants but living testimony to centuries of Christian presence and the spiritual life of the displaced communities.

At the same time, the same locations are being promoted as tourist attractions, including through offerings such as Marriott Bonvoy Tours & Activities, raising concerns that the Christian heritage and the memory of those who were forced to leave are being erased from the narrative presented to visitors.