MOSCOW, February 9, 2009. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents data on which countries of the post-Soviet space Russians and other citizens of the former USSR area would like to visit most if they had a chance to choose only one location.
Choosing one place in any country of the post-Soviet space for a visit most of the time Russians name Ukraine (14%). Less often (8%) they name Georgia. For 6 % of respondents would like to go to any place in Belarus and Latvia. Rarer (4%) Russians wish to go to Estonia; those who would go to Armenia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are 3% for each group; Moldova, Azerbaijan and Lithuania got 2 %. The least popular countries are Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan (1% for each), as well as Turkmenistan (<1%).
Russia remains to be the most desirable post-Soviet place to go, taking into account that those who want to go there more then others are the residents of Kyrgyzstan (62%) and Armenia (59%). Georgians (47%), Tajiks and Uzbeks (45% each) are eager to go there less then others. 37% of residents of Moldova, 34% of residents of Kazakhstan, 31% of Belarusians wants to go to Russia. Among respondents residing in the Baltic states (Lithuania and Latvia) less than one third (28% each), as well as 26% of Ukrainians, have the same inclination. Azeri are the least willing to visit any place in Russia (10%).
The survey revealed mutual interest of residents of some post-soviet countries in visiting. So, Belarussians choose Russia (31%) and Ukraine (14%) among the rest of the possible countries to visit, Ukrainians choose Russia (26%) and rarer - Belarus (3%). 14% of Russians, in their turn, choose Ukraine and 6% of them choose Belarus.
The similar desire to visit any place in the neighboring country was expressed by Russians, Georgians and Latvians: Georgians more than others would like to visit Russia (47%), at the same time 8% of Russians wants to go to Georgia. Georgians also would like to go to Latvia (6%). Latvians show interest towards visiting Russia (28%) and Georgia (7%) too. 6% of Russians, in their turn, would like to travel to any place in Latvia. Baltic states` residents (Latvians and Lithuanians) also demonstrate mutual interest: 5% of Latvians say they would like to visit Lithuania, and 5% of Lithuanians want to be guests of Latvians.
The Opinion Poll was conducted by International Research Agency "Eurasian Monitor" in April-June 2008. 16143 of respondents were interviewed in 13 countries.
In Russia the survey was conducted by VCIOM. 1600 of respondents were interviewed in 140 sampling points. The margin of error does not exceed 3.4 %
If you had a chance to visit any one place (natural/ historical /architectural sightseeing) or cultural/sports event in any country of the former USSR (except for your own country), what would you choose? (% of answers by column) | ||||||||||||||
| Belarus | Russia | Ukraine | Moldova | Azerbaijan | Armenia | Georgia | Kazakhstan | Kyrgyzstan | Tajikistan | Uzbekistan | Latvia | Lithuania | |
1 | Belarus | - | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | - | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
2 | Russia | 31 | - | 26 | 37 | 10 | 59 | 47 | 34 | 62 | 45 | 45 | 28 | 28 |
3 | Ukraine | 14 | 14 | - | 10 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 4 | - | 3 | 5 | 7 | 7 |
4 | Moldova | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 1 | 0 | 1 | - | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
5 | Azerbaijan | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 1 |
6 | Armenia | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | - | - | 2 | 1 | - | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
7 | Georgia | 4 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | - | 3 | - | 3 | 3 | 7 | 6 |
8 | Kazakhstan | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
9 | Kyrgyzstan | 0 | 1 | - | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 3 | - | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
10 | Tajikistan | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | - | 0 | - | 0 | - | - | 3 | 1 | 0 |
11 | Turkmenistan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | 1 | - | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
12 | Uzbekistan | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | - | 11 | - | 2 | 1 |
13 | Latvia | 2 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 2 | - | 1 | 3 | 0 | 5 |
14 | Lithuania | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | - | 1 | 1 | 5 | - |
15 | Estonia | 2 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | - | 2 | 1 | 5 | 4 |
Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or www.wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM,
the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!