For the fourth year in a row, Malta has been named the most LGBTIQ+ friendly travel destination in Europe, earning a 90.35 per cent rating out of 100.
The annual Rainbow Europe list, produced by ILGA-Europe, ranks 49 European countries based on categories including: equality and non-discrimination, family, hate crime and hate speech, legal gender recognition and bodily integrity, civil society space and asylum.
Malta, home to less than half a million people, is fast becoming a European leader in LGBTIQ+ rights, becoming the first European country to ban 'gay conversion' therapy in 2016.
Belgium came in second place on the 2019 list, with a 73.08 per cent rating, followed by Luxenbourg, with 70.40 per cent.
Discussing the process that goes into each year's list, ILGA-Europe co-chair, Darienne Flemington, said: “We know what is needed and the formula for success is obvious: Laws and explicit policies matter."
She added: "Political leadership matters. Add to this mix meaningful engagement with communities and civil society and you can make a real difference in the lives of LGBTIQ+ people."
The UK only just cracked the top 10, landing in ninth place with a 62 per cent score. Last place went to Azerbaijan, which scored only 3 per cent.
