Switzerland is renowned for its favourable skiing conditions and it has long been a hotspot for adventurous winter sports enthusiasts from around the globe.

Indeed, such is its popularity among Britons, the Swiss Federal Statistical Office suggested in 2006 that 785,000 visit the country (including trips to Liechtenstein) every year.

However, travellers to Switzerland have been urged by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to take a number of precautions to ensure their trip passes off without incident.

As one might expect, the Alpine regions bring a moderate risk of avalanches throughout the year, so anyone spending any length of time there should observe all written notices and warnings.

The FCO has the following advice: "You should be well equipped, not undertake the [winter sports] activity alone, study the itinerary and inform someone of your plans.

"Off-piste skiers should follow the advice given by local authorities and guides; to ignore such advice could put yourselves and other mountain users in danger."

Furthermore, Britons are advised to ensure that they have comprehensive travel and medical insurance to cover potential repatriation or mountain rescue services costs in the event of incurring injuries.

Bringing the European Health Insurance Card is also a prudent move, particularly as since 2002, it entitles British travellers and their dependent family members to a better price for emergency healthcare.

In terms of crime in Switzerland, the FCO reports that most visits are trouble-free, although one of the main types of incident for which Britons needed consular assistance in 2007 was lost or stolen passports and cash.

Although the serious crime rate is generally low, petty thefts from pickpockets and confidence tricksters are on the rise, particularly in city centres, airports, railway stations and other public places.

Moreover, the FCO warns that Britons could be targeted by scam artists, who tend to prey on unsuspecting tourists with strategies which can cause "great financial loss to victims".

"If you receive an e-mail purporting to be from HMRC (Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs) offering a tax refund on provision of your bank details you should make absolutely sure that it is not part of a scam," the body notes.

Finally, it is worth noting that anyone born after 1963 has been advised by the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health to receive a measles vaccination before heading to the country.