Car Hire in South Africa receives a boost from the upcoming Football World Cup
January 22, 2010
The car hire industry in South Africa has noted an upturn in its fortunes of
late. A successful festive period coupled with the upcoming football World Cup
has meant that car hire companies are starting to turn the corner following the
economic crisis which blighted the industry last year.
The Christmas holiday season proved a very good time for the car hire companies
operating in South Africa, with a big increase in bookings noted, especially
around coastal areas. One
car rental firm said that they were so overwhelmed with demand for
their cars, that at one point, they completely ran out of vehicles.
The figures speak for themselves. The chef executive at Europcar South Africa
says there has been a marked rise in the number of tourists visiting the
country. Although the figures are not up to the level they were before the
economic downturn hit, they are considerably higher than this time last year.
Also the domestic leisure industry reported a 12% increase during this
Christmas period which is another encouraging sign.
The upcoming Football World Cup is another contributory factor towards the
increase in car hire bookings. The world famous event is due to descend upon
South Africa this summer bringing thousands of football fans with it. Car hire
companies have noted a surge in bookings for this time as the games draw
closer. Some firms have vowed to add new vehicles to their fleet of hire cars
on order to cope with demand when the World Cup comes to town.
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