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.
