Islands control major chunk of rent-a-car deals

THE Balearics lays claim to a whopping 18 percent of all car hire business throughout the country.
Statistics were revealed yesterday in a consultancy report researched in April this year which showed that the Islands are only beaten into third place by Andalucia, leading with 20 percent; and the Canary Islands, which have cornered 19 percent of the market. The report was based on information gathered from 1'555 companies across Spain who employ some 14'200 workers. Income from the car hire industry rose last year to 1'405 million euros, a figure reflecting a growth of 7.3 percent up on 2004. The favourable rent-a-car profile is due largely to demand from business as a whole, with an extra surge in requirement from the national tourism industry and foreign visitors. The five principal companies in the sector are Avis, Europcar, Hertz, Fualsa and Atesa. Last year, they alone accounted for 46 percent of last year's income in the sector. The report predicted that competition in the car hire industry looks likely to intensify with the Internet offering cheap alternatives. On the downside, the “all-inclusive” holiday package is likely to have a negative effect.