May 25, 2021. VCIOM presents the findings of a survey describing Russian plans for summer vacation.

Russians intend to spend summer vacation at home (52%), dacha (34%), in another Russian city (13%), at the Krasnodar krai and the Caucasus coast resorts (13%) or in Crimea (8%). Nine percent of Russians plan a trip abroad (outside the former USSR) or would like to travel to a place in the former USSR countries (except for Baltic countries), as well as Baltic countries (1%). Only every twentieth will use the services of travel agencies (5%).

Of those who are not going anywhere this summer, 40% say they have no money or have experienced a decrease in income; 14% are going to work or not going to take a vacation; 7% will not go anywhere due to poor health; 4% have no time to take a vacation; 4% will not go anywhere  because of old age. Only 2% of Russians abandoned summer vacation plans due to COVID-19 threat (25% in 2020).

Summer vacation budget

Russians are going to spend an average of 40,022 rubles per traveler; compared to the previous year, there has been a decrease of 19 p.p.

More than one-third of Russians (36%) are saving up to have a trip. Almost every third (30%) will use their current funds; 8% will fund their trip using additional income (bonuses, side job, etc.); the trips of 4% of respondents will be paid by family and friends; 2% are going to finance their travel from a loan. Most of Russians travel with their family or in a group of four persons. 

Development of domestic tourism

Over the past five years, 42% of Russians have travelled to other Russian regions; 29% of them did it repeatedly. More than half of respondents (58%) have not done that.

Those who have travelled around Russia over the recent five years give higher scores (on a 1-5 scale) to Russia’s climate and nature (4.49), an opportunity to explore new destinations (4.26), security (3.84), entertainment and leisure opportunities (3.82), as well as the contingent of tourists (3.73).

Three-quarters of Russians may opt for Russian destinations more frequently in the next few years (75%).

Top five Russian destinations involve Crimea (29%), Krasnodar krai (17%), Lake Baikal (15%), Altai Republic (14%), and Sochi (13%).

Among those who are heading to a Russian city, 13% will go to St Petersburg; 5% will go to Moscow; 3%, Yekaterinburg; 3%, Nizhny Novgorod; 3%, Anapa.  

Tourism cashback program

Three-quarters of Russians (76%) have heard about the government’s tourism cashback program: up to 20% of the Russian tour will be refunded according to this program (70% heard about this program in 2020). At the same time, one–third of respondents (31%) are well informed about the program (19% in 2020).Twelve percent of Russians are going to use this program; 85% say no. This year, 2% of respondents report to have participated in this program (1% in 2020). Five percent of those who did live in Moscow or St Petersburg.

Russian nationwide VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted on May 15-16, 2021. A total of 1,600 of Russians aged 18 and older took part in the survey. Results are based on telephone interviews. Stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of Russian landline and mobile phone numbers was used. 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 to the wording of questions and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.

*In 2019, these answers were in “I do not want to go anywhere/ Home is better”