Middle East Outbound Bookings on the Rise for Hertz

Hertz, a leading car rental company, has recorded a significant rise in outbound bookings from the Middle East on all its key destinations during 2004. The first quarter of 2005 is showing a continuation of the same trend, with Europe remaining the top destination for travellers from the region.

While the UK, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain and to a lesser extent Austria and the Netherlands, remain the most popular with Middle East travellers, Eastern European and Scandinavian destinations are generating an increasing amount of interest.

Russia, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Scandinavian countries have all started to register increased activity, suggesting that Middle East travellers are venturing beyond their regular leisure getaways. The same trend is expected to continue into summer as travellers book their annual holidays.

South Africa and the Far East have also registered growth, as have Australia and New Zealand, which are the next two destinations to watch as the frequency of flights from the Middle East increases.

The first-quarter results also show that Middle East travellers might be slowly returning to the United States. Hertz explains the increase in US bookings with the low US dollar and the streamlining of procedures in countries such as Bahrain, which has reduced the amount of time needed to issue tourist visas.

“The growth in US bookings has been slow and it will take a little time for outbound volumes from the Middle East to reach pre-2001 levels,” said John Andrews, Director, Associations, GSA & Middle East.

“Although travel agents still generate the most bookings from the Middle East, the web is becoming increasingly easier and faster to access and more and more travellers are exploring the Internet and booking each facet of their holiday online,” he said. “By booking and paying in advance, travellers can take advantage of the very best deals.”

Travellers can make their international car rental bookings by calling the Hertz general sales agents numbers in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and the UAE, where they can pay in local currency and receive useful advice on which vehicles would be best for their requirements along with local attractions and local rules and  regulations at the destinations for which they are booking.

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