This year the number of Russians who can afford summer vacation will decrease; Russians still want to have rest but they are lacking money.
MOSCOW, May 24, 2016. Russian Public Opinion Research Centre (VCIOM) presents the data of the annual survey devoted to the Russian summertime plans.
Ongoing economic crisis might have had a big impact on the summer plans of Russians: the number of Russians who are going to spend their summer vacations at home or at dachas has dramatically increased, whereas the number of those who head off for other regions and countries of the world has declined. Forty-five percent of Russians will stay at home during this summer season (40% in 2015); 35% will go to dachas (26%, respectively).
Children are expected to have the same summer destinations: 33% of Russians report that their children will stay at home; 22% - that they will be at garden plot; 10% will send their children to summer camps.
Financial troubles are the key reason why Russians abandon overseas trips: it is mentioned by 44% respondents who are going to stay at home. Seventeen percent will have to work during summertime; this share has doubled (earlier it was 11%). Diseases and old age also make people stay at home (13%).
Those who leave their home region will visit other regions of Russia: every tenth will go to one of the Russian cities (9%), the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus (8%) or Crimea (8%). Three percent are planning to go abroad.
Over the recent five years every third Russian have travelled within Russia (35%), whereas only every fifth has gone abroad (19%) which corresponds to the data about the number of Russians having foreign passports (25%).
Foreign destinations are highly assessed by Russians compared to Russian offer. Of note is the difference in assessments of such factors as comfort living at affordable prices (4.34 and 3.54 scores out of 5), services (4.39 and 3.61) and affordable and high quality food (4.38 and 3.67).
Crimea is the most attractive Russian destination, according to respondents: 36% would spend summer time there, if they could. Foreign destinations are far from being Russian top dreams: the number of those who would like to spend their vacation abroad has been steadily decreasing from 33% in 2013 to 21% in 2016. This year the number of those who prefer going to the Russian Black Sea resorts is also higher than the number of those who would travel abroad (23%).
Summer vacation spending is expected to be 3% higher than in the previous year: 33.653 rubles versus 32.810 rubles. Those who spend much more are residents of Moscow and St. Petersburg (41.314 rubles) as well as those who will go abroad, especially to far-abroad countries (58.659 rubles). Only 36% of respondents managed to save up money for summer vacation (54% in 2015). Twenty-one percent of Russians will have to spend their current assets (over four year).
In general, Russian expectations concerning this summer season are more pessimistic than in 2014 and 2015: the percentage of those who believe that this summer season will be better than the previous one has decreased from 38% to 22%. Thirteen percent expect poor experience compared to the last summer. The majority (53%) says this summer vacations will be equal to the past one.
For further details please <link www.wciom.ru/fileadmin/file/reports_conferences/2016/2016-05-24-leto.pdf - external-link-new-window>click here</link>
The VCIOM opinion polls were conducted on May 14-15, 2016, in 130 settlements, 46 regions and 9 federal districts of Russia. Sample size for each survey was 1600 persons. The surveys were conducted with multi-stage stratified sample based on general rule of walking and quotas at the final selection stage; the sample is representative of the Russian population aged 18 and over according to sex, age, education, type of settlement. The margin of error (taking into account the design effect) with 95% confidence interval does not exceed 3.5%. The survey method is community-based formalized face-to-face interviews. Apart from the margin of error, minor changes in question wording and different circumstances arising during the field work should be taken into account.
Where are you going to spend this summer vacation? (closed-ended question, any number of answers, %) | |||||||||||||
04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | |
Home | 59 | 59 | 52 | 57 | 55 | 53 | 55 | 56 | 48 | 45 | 46 | 40 | 45 |
Dacha, garden plot | 20 | 20 | 22 | 18 | 22 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 25 | 22 | 22 | 26 | 35 |
Other Russian city, rural area | 8 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 4 | 11 | 9 |
Caucasus Black Sea coast (Sochi, Tuapse, Anapa, etc,) | 5 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 8 |
Crimea | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 7 | 8 |
Abroad (beyond former USSR territory) | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 3 |
Other places within the former USSR territory (except for Baltic states) | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Baltic states | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Don’t know | 8 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 6 |
If you have minor children/ grandchildren, where, and with who, will they spend this summer? (closed-ended question, any number of answers, % of those who have minor children and grand-children) | |||||||||||||||
| 99 | 00 | 02 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
Home / I will not go anywhere | 50 | 47 | 49 | 46 | 41 | 39 | 37 | 38 | 38 | 42 | 42 | 37 | 38 | 34 | 33 |
Dacha, garden plot | 21 | 19 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 20 | 17 | 22 |
I will go with my parents to other place in Russia | 5 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 14 |
Children summer camp | 7 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 10 |
I will go with my parents to the Black Sea coast of Caucasus | 2 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 8 |
I will go abroad with my parents | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1 |
I will stay with my relatives/friends, without parents, in Russia | 4 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 7 |
I will go hiking; I will go somewhere with other children | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
I will go with my parents to a CIS country | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
I will spend time abroad without parents/relatives/ friends | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
I will spend time in CIS countries without parents/relatives/ friends | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Other | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 7 |
Don’t know | 14 | 13 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 15 | 14 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 7 |
If this summer you plan to stay at home, not going anywhere, what is the reason why? (open-ended question, one answer, % of those who will stay at home) | ||||||||||
07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | |
No money, lack of money | 54 | 60 | 52 | 57 | 54 | 49 | 47 | 49 | 43 | 44 |
I have to work, no vacation | 10 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 15 | 17 |
State of health, I am sick, old age | 12 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 14 | 13 | 13 |
No desire, I like being at home | 6 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 5 |
Housekeeping | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 5 |
Family reasons , small children | 3 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 4 |
I am building my house; I need to have my apartment repaired | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
I live in a beautiful place (Crimea, by the sea, etc.) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Other | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
Don’t know | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 13 | 5 | 13 | 5 |
If you had an opportunity and money, what destination would you choose for your vacation? (closed-ended question, not more than two answers, %) | ||||||||||||
05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | |
Crimea | 11 | 13 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 10 | 8 | 27 | 36 |
Caucasus Black sea coast (Sochi, Tuapse, Anapa, etc,) | 31 | 32 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 25 | 23 | 18 | 19 | 23 | 23 |
Abroad (beyond former USSR territory) | 28 | 34 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 31 | 30 | 33 | 26 | 27 | 21 |
Other Russian city, rural area | 10 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 15 | 12 | 12 |
Home | 14 | 10 | 24 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 11 | 10 |
Dacha, garden plot | 6 | 7 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 |
Other places within the former USSR territory (except for Baltic states) | 9 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 6 |
Baltic states | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
Don’t know | 3 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 5 |
If you/your family member plan to have a vacation this summer, how much money are you going to spend per each family member? (open-ended question, average in rubles) | |||||
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 |
Average sum | 27.220 | 27.636 | 30.651 | 32.810 | 33.653 |
Growth rate |
| 2% | 11% | 7% | 3% |
How will you pay for your trip? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of those who will go somewhere) | ||||
2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | |
I am saving up money for vacation | 53 | 54 | 54 | 36 |
I use my current assets; I will not do anything special | 16 | 18 | 12 | 21 |
I will pay using the extra money I earned (bonuses, additional job, etc.) | 4 | 2 | 5 | 7 |
I will not use my own money; My family/relatives/friends will pay for me | 3 | 6 | 4 | 5 |
I will get credit form a bank | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 |
I will borrow money from friends and relatives | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
I will pay using the money I gained from selling valuable items/securities | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Other | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
Don’t know | 14 | 13 | 15 | 18 |
In your opinion, will your summer vacation will be better/worse/ the same compared to the previous year? (closed-ended question, one answer %) | |||||||||
| 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 |
Likely better | 18 | 13 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 38 | 33 | 22 |
Likely worse | 8 | 15 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 11 | 13 |
Likely the same | 54 | 51 | 55 | 56 | 60 | 59 | 43 | 44 | 53 |
Don’t know | 20 | 21 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 12 |
Some Russians prefer staying within their home region during their summer vacations. Some visit certain places in Russia, others travel abroad. Over the recent five years have you travelled/spent your vacation in other Russian regions? (closed-ended question, one answer, %) | ||||||
| Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | Aged 25-34 | Aged 35-44 | Aged 45-59 | Aged 60 and more |
Yes, once | 12 | 12 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 9 |
Yes, two times and more | 23 | 29 | 30 | 25 | 24 | 10 |
No | 64 | 59 | 54 | 61 | 64 | 81 |
Don’t know | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Over the recent five years have you visited foreign countries? (closed-ended question, one answer, %) | ||||||
| Total respondents | Low income | Income below average | Average income | Income above average | High income |
Yes, once | 8 | 5 | 9 | 4 | 9 | 13 |
Yes, two times and more | 11 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 22 |
No | 80 | 87 | 86 | 89 | 81 | 65 |
Don’t know | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Using a 5-score scale, with 5 being “perfect” and 1 being “very bad”, assess, please, the vacation factors… (closed-ended question, one answer, average scores, answers of those who have travelled over the recent five years) | ||
| Vacation in Russia | Vacation abroad |
Nature and climate | 4.47 | 4.63 |
Opportunity to know something new, to visit interesting places | 4.33 | 4.61 |
Affordable entertainment, cultural opportunities | 3.99 | 4.51 |
Delivering quality services | 3.61 | 4.39 |
Affordable high quality food | 3.67 | 4.38 |
Comfort Living at affordable prices | 3.54 | 4.34 |
Tourist safety | 3.80 | 4.30 |
Type of tourist community | 3.70 | 4.18 |
Opportunities to improve health and get treatment | 3.91 | 4.10 |
Cost of transportation from the place of accommodation to resort | 3.21 | 3.96 |
Do you have a valid foreign passport? (closed-ended question, one answer, %) | ||||||
| Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | Aged 25-34 | Aged 35-44 | Aged 45-59 | Aged 60 and more |
Yes, I do | 25 | 25 | 31 | 31 | 26 | 12 |
No, but I might have it this year | 5 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 2 |
No, but I might have it within next five years | 13 | 25 | 21 | 14 | 9 | 3 |
No, and I am not going to get it | 56 | 39 | 39 | 50 | 60 | 83 |
Don’t know | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
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