Whitewashing Genocide And Ethnic Cleansing: Part III

WHITEWASHING GENOCIDE AND ETHNIC CLEANSING: PART III

AZERBAIJAN AND THE SPECIAL LUXURY OF “BLOOD TOURISM” IN ETHNICALLY CLEANSED ARTSAKH

US, BRITISH, AND AZERI COMPANIES ORANIZE TRAVEL TOURS TO OCCUPIED ARTSAKH AS THE WAGES OF GENOCIDE GROW

STEPANAKERT, OCCUPIED ARTSAKH—As reported in a piece published by 301 in May (“Re-Branding Genocide: Luxury Tourism, Academic Projects, & Business, Ventures In Occupied Artsakh”), Azerbaijani state structures have ramped-up their campaigns to falsify the veracity of indigenous Armenian history in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) as part of a sinister plan aimed at the complete erasure of Artsakh and its indigenous Armenians following that Turkic dictatorship’s ethnic cleansing and forced exodus of the entire native Armenian population.

Promoting petro-dollar funded luxury travel tours, academic engagement projects, and geopolitical realignment initiatives have been part and parcel of Azerbaijan’s tactical wheelhouse of dirty tricks in the territories of the Artsakh Republic as they continue their unabated destruction of indigenous Armenian cultural heritage sites and ancient Christian Armenian religious monuments, in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh).

New levels of genocide ongoing and denial, are being fomented by Azerbaijan and its allies to buttress anti-Armenian Azeri false narratives aiming to erase all proof of Armenian, millennial presence and cultural production in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh).

Through exploiting Artsakh’s commercial, institutional, and natural resources, and assets, vis a vis these new campaigns, Azerbaijan continues to misappropriate Armenian (and world cultural heritage sites), artifacts, and tangible, as well as intangible cultural treasures and traditions.

GENOCIDE TOURS AND GENOCIDE TOURISTS

Recent investigations, mentioned in news reports in May of this year, also uncovered the activities of multiple tourism agencies, including luxury travel groups endorsed by Condé Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure, who are currently marketing “exclusive excursions” to Artsakh.

These agencies are “discreetly” targeting affluent Western travelers for “adventure tourism” trips in occupied Artsakh–exotifying genocide and selling it as a holiday.

These trips are not publicized widely–instead, they are offered selectively to avoid public scrutiny, backlash, and human rights concerns. This covert marketing strategy signals a calculated campaign to reframe Azeri war crimes and anchor the ill gotten gains of genocide as luxury experiences.

Such grotesque ironies are the result of Azerbaijan’s genocide against Armenians and its active rebranding of stolen land, culture, and heritage as its own, all while the world’s institutions turn a blind eye and, far worse, participate.

The erasure of an entire people is now being whitewashed, commodified, and rebranded under the guise of tourism, academia, and business ventures.

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Based on publicly available primary and secondary sources, a listing of just some of the actors who are now complicit participants in this ghoulish scourge of “blood tourism” in or involving Azeri-occupied Artsakh is provided below, including companies, corporations, individuals, and other grouping such as LLCs and limited partnerships, during the time period June 2024 – May 2025, inclusive.

The list is not complete or exhaustive by any means, but does provide a cross-sectional view of some of the entities who have been complicit through their interactions, actively and passively, in Azerbaijan’s glaring and continuing campaign of genocide, ethnic cleansing, and cultural appropriation against indigenous Armenians, Artsakh, and the Armenian people as a whole.

Palace Garabagh Hotel–Located in occupied Stepanakert, this hotel “reopened” and was recently toured by Azerbaijani media representatives. It is described as having 54 rooms, modern catering facilities, and a restaurant, capable of accommodating 300 guests. The source notes this is the same site as the Artsakh Armenian Vallex Garden Hotel, popular for tourists during the Artsakh Republic. It has been represented by Azeri media as an “investment in hospitality infrastructure.” (July 9, 2024.) [1]

Azerbaijani Airlines CJSC–The Head of the Azeri Press Service announced that the launch of regular flights to Fizuli from Baku, commencing on July 17, marked a “new milestone” in the development of Azerbaijan’s civil aviation. ( July 29 – August 4, 2024.) [2]

PostCargo (a subsidiary of Azerpost)–This company provides delivery services that facilitate access to goods from abroad, indirectly supporting activity in the region; PostCargo commenced delivery of international parcels to occupied Stepanakert and Fizuli, allowing residents to order products from countries including Turkey, the United States, and Germany via their website. They plan to extend the delivery network to additional cities. (November 6, 2024.) [3]

Postcargo delivers products from the US to Artsakh, but it is a subsidiary of an Azerbaijani company. The Azerbaijani government is actively promoting occupied Artsakh as a tourist destination. According to the State Tourism Agency of Azerbaijan, hundreds of local and foreign tourists visited Shushi, Aghdam, and Fizuli in 2024, with landmarks such as the “Isa Spring,” “Jydyr Plain,” and Vagif Mausoleum attracting particular interest. The Yolumuz Qarabaga Portal is used to regulate individual car trips to occupied Artsakh, which have been permitted since December 2023. Tour operators are offering one and multi-day tours to the main cities in occupied Artsakh. Permits must be obtained through the portal, routes are limited, and there are restrictions on the number of vehicles allowed daily into certain cities like Shushi and Sugovushan. Travel to areas bordering Armenia is prohibited.The number of trips organized by tour operators reportedly increased by 30% in the first half of 2024 compared to 2023. (April 4, 2025.) [4]

International Travel Clubs Organizing Visits

Most Traveled People [MTP] Club–This is described as one of the largest travelers’ clubs in the world. Sources report multiple visits organized by MTP to occupied Artsakh. A visit by a delegation of 35 representatives led by Charles Veley was reported between July 15 – 21, 2024. By this date, a total of 400 international travelers from 50 countries had visited the area with more than four visits organized by MTP. (July 25, 2024.) [5]

UK Piki Reels Club–This travel club from the United Kingdom toured occupied Artsakh with a group of 33 travelers led by Belgian citizen Yves Bouvy. They claim to have observed demining actions in Horadiz village and visited various locations including Fizuli, Khojavend, Shushi, Aghdam, Kalbajar (Karavajar), and Lachin. (October 28, 2024.) [6]
- NomadMania –This international travel club organizes visits to the region and hosted travel to occupied Artsakh, with visits to Stepanakert, Aghdam, Fizuli, and Shushi. The group included travelers from 30 countries and observed so-called “reconstruction and restoration efforts.” This was the 13th group visit from international travel clubs to occupied Artsakh. (April 21-27, 2025.). [7]
Additionally, while not U.S.-based entities, the following international travel clubs have included U.S. travelers in their visits to occupied Artsakh:
- Most Traveled People [MTP] Club.
- UK Piki Reels Club.
- NomadMani.
Hotel Investments In Progress and Potential

US-Based, US-Affiliated Entities

Hilton Garden Inn–a brand of Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc., which is headquartered in the United States. is currently under construction in occupied Aghdam, with architecture and design firm Oskad carrying out the project. The project manager announced that more than 100 people will be employed at the hotel, which is “two-thirds completed.” President Aliyev personally reviewed the ongoing construction. (June 20, 2025.) [8]

Marriott–a brand of Marriott International, which is headquartered in the United States, as well. The concept mock-up for a Marriott in Aghdam represents potential direct engagement by a US-affiliated entity. [9]

Miscelanae

As reported earlier, U.S.-based companies Baker Hughes Co. and Schlumberger [SLB] are engaging with SOCAR on geothermal energy projects in occupied Artsakh. While these are U.S. companies, their reported engagement is specifically in the energy sector, not tourism or travel, although infrastructure development does directly support tourism. [10]

Airbnb and Trip Advisor–These travel platforms are involved in some business interface with occupied Artsakh (info forthcoming), but were criticized by a columnist from “Trend Azerbaijan” for referring to listings in occupied Artsakh with their original Armenian names, stating that “pleas to remove these ads have been not addressed and representatives have been ‘dodging’ the issue.” These entities have been mentioned in the context of travel platforms related to Artsakh, but not specifically as actors investing or engaging in reconstruction. (June 10-16, 2024.) [11]

This is a continuing series of exposés highlighting the exploitation of occupied-Artsakh, WHITEWASHING GENOCIDE AND ETHNIC CLEANSING, compiled by a group of concerned Armenians. Read Part One: Supporting War Crimes And Genocide: Individuals, Groups, And Institutions Colluding With Azerbaijan In Occupied Artsakh and Part Two: Azerbaijan Exploits Foreign Diplomats And Dignitaries To Cover-Up War Crimes And Genocide.

Endnotes/Sources:

[1] https://en.trend.az/azerbaijan/society/3921663.html.

[2] https://en.trend.az/business/transport/3927742.html.

[3] https://caliber.az/en/post/azerpost-brings-online-shopping-to-karabakh-with-new-delivery-service.

[4] https://jam-news.net/tours-to-karabakh-tourist-in-ones-own-country/.

[5] MTP Trip Photos and Videos [https://en.trend.az/azerbaijan/society/3926970.html]; Azertac Article [https://azertag.az/en/xeber/international_travelers_kick_off_visit_to_azerbaijans_karabakh_region-3111530?__cf_chl_tk=l8T6MhAcKh09AgZYis2UnhT6NZRZIfEBzD4zRwcBtiw-1721936171-0.0.1.1-6868]; Veley Statements [https://en.trend.az/azerbaijan/politics/3927140.html].

[6] UK Piki Reels Club Tours Occupied Artsakh [https://en.trend.az/azerbaijan/society/3962319.html]; Interview with Irish Traveler [https://en.trend.az/azerbaijan/3962368.html]; Interview with UK Traveler [https://en.trend.az/azerbaijan/3961920.html]; Interview with US Traveler [https://en.trend.az/azerbaijan/3961837.html]; Travel Club Visit [https://en.trend.az/azerbaijan/society/3962142.html]

[7] Article [https://en.trend.az/azerbaijan/society/4035356.html];

Traveler Blog [https://nomadmania.com/azerbaijan-tour-report/];

Fenger Comments [https://en.trend.az/business/tourism/4035234.html];

Cortal Comments [https://en.trend.az/azerbaijan/society/4035186.html];