Azerbaijan wants ban on promotion of tourism to Artsakh

By Asbarez | Monday, 09 June 2014

 

A medieval Armenian fortress in Artsakh, below the archaeological site of the ancient city of Tigranakert


MADRID—Azerbaijani authorities are preparing to introduce a draft resolution at the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) that would prohibit the advertisement of tourism to Artsakh, following a meeting of the executive committee of the UNWTO in Spain, Azerbaijan’s Culture and Tourism Ministry said on Monday.

 

The draft resolution, which would be non-binding if passed, describes advertising material that promotes tourism in Artsakh as “propaganda.” The resolution also cites Azeri “concerns” that the area is unsafe for tourists due to “activity from various terroristic groups.”

The most recent meeting of the executive committee of the UNWTO was on June 5 and 6, held in Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

Various high ranking officials representing Baku attended the meeting.

Azerbaijan’s Culture and Tourism Deputy Minister Nazim Samadov delivered a speech during the meeting in which he outlined his country’s plans to introduce a resolution banning the promotion of tourism to Artsakh.

Azeri authorities also noted that they consider visits to the Artsakh Republic as illegal, threatening that any individual who visits the country will be placed on a “black list,” as so many high profile individuals already have, most often knowingly and with gusto.

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