Scotland edged the Algarve (Portugal) into second place and Ireland into third.

The accolade is particularly significant as it comes at a time when Scotland has just launched Homecoming Scotland 2009 - a celebration of the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns, Scotland's National Poet.

The celebration is being marked with a programme of over 300 events based on the themes of Burns, golf, whisky, ancestry and great Scottish minds.