INTERNATIONAL car rental company, Europcar's Southern African division is to open branches in Botswana and Swaziland, bringing its total number of regional branches close to 40.
Entering its fourth year of operation in Southern Africa, the expansion of the company has "exceeded all expectations", according to managing director, Angela Shackleford, from the regional head office in Kempton Park, Johannesburg.
She attributes the success of the company to a number of aspects, not the least of which is the company's achievement in offering a specialised product that "caters to the requirements of the international inbound tourist".
The credibility of an international name, recognised as one of the world's three leading rental brands, has also assisted its rapid growth, as renters readily identify with the credibility of the worldwide recognised brand, believes Shackleford.
"Europcar has also been appointed as one of the official benefactors of the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund, and actively assists the project by donating a percentage of every rental to the Fund," she added.
(Southern African Tourism Update - May 2000)
