WASHINGTON – Marriott International has pulled a controversial 14-hour tourism package offering guided visits across Azerbaijani-occupied Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) following an intense five-day global advocacy campaign led by human rights organizations and Armenian diaspora groups.
The tour, bookable directly through the company’s Marriott Bonvoy activities platform, allowed travelers to visit occupied cities including Shushi and Stepanakert while earning loyalty points. However, the listing drew widespread condemnation for omitting all mention of Artsakh’s millennial Armenian Christian heritage, as well as the military assault, blockade, and forced displacement that emptied the region of its 150,000 indigenous Armenian residents.
The campaign was triggered after investigative research published on July 27 by the Center for Armenian Research and Analysis (CARA) exposed the listing. CARA’s report noted that the tour included a stop at Artsakh’s most iconic monument, Tatik-Papik (“We Are Our Mountains”), but stripped away its cultural identity, describing it merely as a “notable example of regional stone art and architecture” without using the word Armenian once.
Mobilized by CARA’s findings, the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), together with international affiliate offices across six continents and diaspora media outlets, organized a coordinated public advocacy push. Facing mounting public pressure, the global hotel giant—which holds a market capitalization exceeding $100 billion—removed the offer from its platform in less than 120 hours.
“Marriott had no business profiting from the suffering of Artsakh’s ethnically cleansed Armenians—no right to run tours normalizing Azerbaijan’s genocide of an indigenous population,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “We were encouraged by the rapid global response that got this tour taken down within five days—less than 120 hours—and will, of course, remain vigilant against all those who seek to enrich themselves through genocide.”
The controversy highlights broader ongoing concerns in the region. Displaced Armenians remain barred by Azerbaijan from returning to their homes, while 19 Armenian hostages continue to be held in Azerbaijani custody. Meanwhile, international observers report ongoing destruction of historic Armenian churches and cultural heritage across the region.
GSV News Service
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