Bermuda may have been rated as the eighth friendliest place in the world in a recent survey — but that’s not good enough for politician Kim Swan.Mr Swan, of the United Bermuda Party, said the Island should be striving for the top spot.The survey saw Forbes online rate countries based on HSBC’s Expat Explorer survey which was released earlier this month.HSBC surveyed 5,339 expatriates around the world on a range of factors related to economics, raising children and overall experiences.Forbes then isolated the results in four categories: ability to befriend locals, success in learning the local language, capacity for integrating into the community, and ease of fitting into the new culture.The top spot went to the Cayman Islands, followed by Australia and Britain.Canada came next, followed by New Zealand, Spain, the United States, Bermuda, South Africa and Malaysia.Bermuda fell in the rankings compared to 2011, when it came second only to Canada.Responding to the news, Mr Swan said yesterday: “We must want to be number one again. Growing up in Bermuda and working in the hospitality industry, it was commonplace to tell our visitors that Bermudians are the friendliest people in the world, but also to believe it to be so.“To see this Forbes survey, which lists Bermuda the eighth friendliest place behind Cayman, the USA, Canada and others suggests in my mind that we need to up our game and strive to be number one again.”Mr Swan continued: “Our only export in Bermuda is our smile and naturally friendly demeanour and it is our best interest to recognise the worth of that trait and work collectively to ensure that we pass on that great reputation to future generations.“Notwithstanding the social challenges that our country has endured in recent years and the current frustrations of the prolonged economic hardship being felt throughout Bermuda it behoves us as a people to understand the value of a good attitude in our everyday life, within our family, at work and/or in the community.”Mr Swan believes simple things like young people giving up their seats on buses to adults, and engaging with tourists, help build Bermuda’s reputation among foreigners.“Let this survey be a reminder that the world takes note and if we are to remain competitive in both international business and tourism how we are viewed externally matters,” he urged.“People make countries friendly, therefore, let us as Bermudians strive to be the friendliest jurisdiction in the world again.”Useful website: www.forbes.com