They toured a number of historical and archaeological sites in the area, including Kampyr Tepe, Fayaz Tepe, the Jarkurgan minaret, old Termez, the Hakim al-Termezi mausoleum and the Archaeological Museum.

The delegation was impressed by the rich, diverse historical heritage of Surkhandarya province, a crossroads of ancient religions and empires, and its potential for tourism.

The Ambassador said: 'Given its astonishing variety of fascinating historical sites, Termez is not as well-known as it deserves to be. For example, the spectacular Kampyr Tepe, thought to be the site of Alexander the Great's settlement on the Oxus, barely gets a mention in my guidebook. With the right investment in hotels and infrastructure, the region has real potential as a destination for foreign tourists.'