
Car Rental Rates Hit Tourism
Failte Ireland says that rising car rental prices are undermining Ireland's reputation as a good value for money destination. It added that those who cannot secure a car booking may decide not to come to Ireland.
"This represents a major loss for the wider tourism industry. 20% of all overseas tourists to Ireland rent a car, and those who do spend more time and money and are far more likely to visit rural Ireland."
A report carried out by Indecon for Fáilte Ireland found that the cost of renting a car for tourists in Ireland is high compared to the European average. It also found that car hire plays an important role in facilitating tourism in Ireland and is a highly-seasonal sector. It says the pandemic had a detrimental impact on car rental companies.
For a ten-day hire from Dublin Airport at the end of July, a small car - a Citroen C1 - will set people back around €1,545. For those looking for more space, a VW Golf Estate comes in at over €5,700. For the same period out of Kerry Airport, a small VW Up costs just over €1,500.