This summer Europcar Mobility Group, an international leader in the car rental sector with a network of offices in Italy, recorded a strong rise in rentals by inbound visitors especially those on long-haul flights, although the first signs of a downturn were seen towards the end of the season. "At the end of July there was a drop in customer confidence, due to the global macroeconomic situation. This was felt not only in Italy but throughout Europe. However, the summer was absolutely above our expectations compared to the start of the year," stressed Enrico Farina, the group’s commercial director.
Farina predicts growth for business rentals in 2023 while the leisure demand remains a question mark. "The drop in consumer spending power may well have implications for leisure travel trends. But we must also consider some extremely positive aspects, namely that international travellers still view Italy as an exceptional tourist destination. This is both for its high levels of hospitality and its beauty but also with respect to safety, which is perceived as very high.”
The trend in sustainable demand is both interesting and not unexpected, said Farina, as many visitors from northern Europe, and Italians too, are much more environmentally responsible. "The demand for sustainable mobility solutions is growing, and we are significantly increasing our green fleet. It is a work in progress.”
Central for the Europcar Group is the support of travel agencies. "Our GSA is working structurally and we are in a phase of proposing but also of listening. The rapidly changing customer mix is forcing us to be flexible and to propose a range of rentals that reply to the changing market.”
