Avis Rent-A-Car has seen a 10 per cent increase in reservations by foreign travellers for the six months from November 2001 to April 2002 compared to the same period a year ago.
Avis Rent-A-Car has seen a 10 per cent increase in reservations by foreign travellers for the six months from November 2001 to April 2002 compared to the same period a year ago.
According to Avis managing director Guy Harris, reservations are up by 3 000. The company had about 30 000 rentals in the same period last year.
"With the continuing international turmoil, however, the global travel situation remains very unsettled,” Harris said. “Present indications are that the coming December-to-April peak season will be a good one for us, but it would be imprudent to make longer-term extrapolations from current figures in this volatile environment."
Harris said it was particularly significant that business from the company’s traditional core markets abroad was holding up well, with reservations from the United Kingdom more than doubling.
"Airline flights to South Africa have been increased and so has the number of cruise liners calling here over the next few months. The demand for car rental will obviously benefit from this trend, which reflects a shift in tourism patterns in the wake of September 11 and subsequent events," Harris said.