But when the journey is fraught, if the destination is good the inconvenience is soon forgotten, and for sunshine holidays if good beaches and security are high on the tourist agenda, the island of Malta in the Mediterranean could be a good choice.



In a survey of 27 European countries by the World Health Organisation, comparing the rates of assault and murder, the UN body found that Malta was the second safest country, with Ireland the safest. Least safe were Lithuania and Latvia.

The new report comes in addition to one from an American journalist who last year placed Malta as one of the five safest travel destinations in the world, and a new report from the US just a few months ago confirmed Malta as one of the safest vacation spots in the world.

The good news and publicity comes for Malta in a year that has seen her fortunes as a holiday spot turn around from one that had been in decline, to one that is returning to a mainstream vacation destination.

The first three months of 2007 all showed year on year improvements in the number of tourists visiting Malta.

Much of the increase in visitor numbers has come about since the Malta government reluctantly agreed to allow low cost airlines to fly from the UK and Ireland, traditionally Malta's strongest market for holidays.

The decision to allow the low cost flights came after some time of delay by the Maltese authorities, and was too late to stop a further decline in 2006 of visitor numbers.

Ryanair started flights from London's Luton airport in November, and from Dublin three months later. Other countries with low cost airlines have also started to fly to Malta, notably from Germany and Spain.

This year's report bears more official weight than the previous one by a travel writer, as it was compiled by the US State Department.

Commenting on Malta, the report praises the island for the non existence of organised crime, especially surprising perhaps given her proximity to mainland Italy - and closer still to notorious Sicily.

A surprise for many who have driven in Malta is that the report considers the island's roads to be safe. But this is backed up by official EU figures showing Malta has the lowest road related fatalities in the EU.

Last year's report helped to promote Malta's image as a safe destination to potential tourists considering different holiday destinations.

Malta ranked as one of the top five locations for safety in the world, according to American travel writer Laura McKenzie.

In her report Ms McKenzie said of the Mediterranean holiday island 'In Malta there is no such thing as a dark and uninviting alley, while the police force is one of the oldest in the world'. Three reports in two years praising Malta for her safe streets could boost the number of Malta holidays sold next year.