Guide picks Ireland as world's friendliest destination

LONDON (Reuters) - Ireland was picked on Wednesday as the world's friendliest destination in a new Lonely Planet Guide to favourite tourist spots.

The Irish won the accolade for their dark sense of humour and friendly nature in Lonely Planet's BlueList 2008.

Ireland took the top spot ahead of the United States and Malawi.

"Centuries of turmoil, conquest and famine - and subsequent immigration - have certainly taken their toll on the Irish. It's left them with a deliciously dark sense of humour and a welcoming attitude towards strangers," the guide said.

The Scots also make it onto the friendly list, being praised for their "extroverted, buoyant demeanour".

"Scotland's becoming the destination for visitors to the British Isles, winning out over dog-eat-dog London," it said.

The six other destinations cited by Lonely Planet for their friendliness in alphabetical order were:

Fiji

Indonesia

Samoa

Thailand

Turkey

Vietnam