Maybe it’s the banter, great food or fine whisky – but Scotland has just been voted one of the friendliest countries in the world by readers of the Rough Guide online travel magazine.  The country is the only European country to appear in the top ten.

It was voted the ninth friendliest country in the world thanks to votes made on the Rough Guides website and via Twitter.

Mike Cantlay, Chairman of VisitScotland, said it was no surprise that Scotland had figured so highly.

He said: “I am delighted that readers of Rough Guides have voted Scotland as one of the friendliest countries in the world. We are famed for the warmth of our welcome and this is a true testimony to that. The successful staging of The Ryder Cup, the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and Homecoming Scotland 2014 has helped to make this a momentous year for Scottish tourism and over and over again, everyone from visitors to athletes; media broadcasters to distinguished VIPs has commented on our kind, openhearted people.

“2014 has taken Scotland’s profile and reputation to great heights and we are determined to make the most of this for the future. As we head into the 2015 Year of Food and Drink and beyond, we will look to develop and build on all we have achieved and I have no doubt that that warm Scottish welcome on which we pride ourselves will continue to get bigger and bolder!”

According to a VisitScotland Visitor survey, 80 per cent of visitors agreed that they were made to feel welcome by locals.

The top-ten Friendliest Countries in the World (Rough Guides):

1. Cambodia
2. The Philippines
3. Laos
4. Nepal
5. Thailand
6. Myanmar (Burma)
7. Indonesia
8. Fiji
9. Scotland
10. Sri Lanka