Transforming the Christian Monuments of Caucasian Albania into Tourism Spaces: Cultural Identity, Architectural Codes and Development Prospects
Riad Safarli
Abstract. This article evaluates how the Christian architectural heritage of Caucasian Albania can be transformed into tourism spaces while safeguarding cultural identity, architectural integrity, and sustainable management principles. The study uses a qualitative systematic literature review, content analysis of policy documents, and comparative interpretation. Academic studies, Azerbaijan's legal framework for monument protection, UNESCO and ICOMOS instruments, and existing tourism presentations such as Kish and Nij are examined through six criteria: historical documentation, architectural authenticity, interpretation, community participation, visitor management, and digital accessibility. The findings show that tourism conversion cannot be reduced to physical improvement. Scholarly attribution, reversible interventions, multilingual source-based interpretation, community involvement in decision-making, and monitoring of carrying capacity must operate together. Digital models can reduce physical pressure on fragile sites and distinguish documented features from hypothetical reconstructions. A differentiated approach is therefore required: established sites may support controlled visitation, whereas vulnerable or insufficiently studied monuments should prioritise documentation, conservation, and virtual access. The proposed framework can support regional routes, strengthen local socioeconomic benefits, and integrate Caucasian Albanian heritage into tourism without weakening its evidential and cultural value.
Keywords: Caucasian Albania, christian monuments, cultural identity, heritage tourism, sustainable management