Kim Kardashian and family draw attention to Armenia

The Kardashian contingent's visit to Armenia is causing a commotion, but officials are pleased they came.

• Kardashian no parking signs created by Plastic Jesus

Kim Kardashian, husband Kanye West, daughter North and sister Khloe are in the Kardashian ancestral homeland on a high-visibility visit ahead of this month's observing of the centennial of the mass killing of Armenians by Ottoman Turks.

Hundreds of celebrity-besotted fans gathered outside the Kardashians' hotel and followed the group through the capital Yerevan on Thursday.

"Kim Kardashian is a lady who's known worldwide. We should be happy she came here," said parliament speaker Galust Saakian.

Historians estimate up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed around the time of World War I. Turkey denies the deaths constituted genocide, saying the toll is inflated and that those killed were victims of civil war and unrest.