Russians consider that foreign visitors have felt a sense of “respect”, “admiration” and “liking” towards Russia after the World Cup.
MOSCOW, August 9, 2018. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data of a survey devoted to the 2018 World Cup held in Russia from June 14 to July 15.
Arrivals of foreign tourists in Russia have drawn a great deal of interest among respondents. Seventy-two percent of Russians say that they saw them in video reports on TV or on the Internet. A further 21% saw foreign fans on the streets and just walked past them. Every tenth (19%) communicated with them personally.
Russians consider that foreign visitors will have positive memories of Russia. According to respondents, foreign fans have felt primarily respect (34%), admiration and liking (32%, each) towards Russia. Thirty percent of respondents are confident that foreigners view Russia as an interesting country. One quarter (25%) of Russians believe that foreign visitors have developed a sense of trust. Foreigners, in their turn, evoked liking (34%), interest (33%) and respect (32%) in Russians. The share of those who report dislikes, fear or distrust is 1% (each).
Three-quarters of respondents (77%) would appreciate if the number of tourists coming to Russia would grow after the World Cup. Only 2% oppose them. A further 13% are confident that the number of foreign guests will not considerably increase.
The VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted on July 16, 2018, and involved 1,600 Russians aged 18 and over. The survey was telephone-based and was carried out using stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of landline and mobile phone numbers operating in Russia. The data were weighted according to selection probability and social and demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 2.5%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes in question wording and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.
Many foreign sports fans visited Russia during the 2018 World Cup. Did you see foreign fans on the streets personally, did you see video reports on TV /on the Internet, or is this the first time you hear about them? (closed-ended question, up to 3 answers, % of total respondents) | |
| Total respondents |
I communicated with foreign fans | 10 |
I saw them on the streets but I passed by and did not communicate with them | 21 |
I saw vide report about foreign fans on TV, on the Internet | 72 |
I heard something about foreign fans but I did not see them/see videos about them | 11 |
This is the first time I hear about foreign fans in Russia | 2 |
In your opinion, what feelings did Russia evoke in foreigners who visited the 2018 World Cup matches? (closed-ended question, up to 3 answers, % of total respondents) | |
| Total respondents |
Respect | 34 |
Admiration | 32 |
Liking | 32 |
Interest | 30 |
Trust | 25 |
Approval | 24 |
Love | 13 |
Hope | 5 |
Envy | 4 |
Indifference | 2 |
Fear | 1 |
Distrust | 1 |
Condemnation | 1 |
Skepsis | 1 |
Disappointment | 1 |
Hatred | 0 |
Dislikes | 0 |
Don’t know | 7 |
What feelings did the foreign fans evoke in you regardless of whether you dealt with them personally or not? (closed-ended question, up to 3 answers, % of total respondents) | |
| Total respondents |
Liking | 34 |
Interest | 33 |
Respect | 32 |
Approval | 23 |
Trust | 17 |
Admiration | 14 |
Indifference | 11 |
Hope | 6 |
Love | 4 |
Envy | 2 |
Fear | 1 |
Distrust | 1 |
Dislikes | 1 |
Skepsis | 1 |
Disappointment | 1 |
Condemnation | 0 |
Hatred | 0 |
Don’t know | 8 |
Certain experts state that the World Cup in Russia will lead to the growing number of foreign tourists. In your opinion, is it good or bad for Russia? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |
| Total respondents |
Likely good | 77 |
Likely bad | 2 |
It does not matter much | 4 |
I do not think that the number of foreign tourists coming to Russia will considerably increase | 13 |
Don’t know | 4 |
Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!