THE rapid growth of tourism in Cebu for 2018 caused a boom in its economy and a demand for more choices in the transportation industry.
This what was Cita Tomada, the President of Drive Services Asia Pacific Inc., said in an interview on Wednesday about the transportation industry in Cebu.
She said that any transportation service would prosper in Cebu because the lifestyle of the people within the metro had become fast-paced causing cab services like Grab and Angkas to be patronized well by the market.
“This time, Cebu needs a car rental,” said Tomada during the grand launch of the Drive Services Asia Pacific Inc. at its branch at the Caltex Station along Plaridel Street, Mandaue City and not along P. Del Rosario St., Cebu City as what was indicated in the Nov. 29 caption of the photo of the launch of the car rental company.
Tomada said that the investment in car rental was a risk, like any business, because of the unstable price of fuel with the addition of the TRAIN Law that had put an additional tax on fuel.
Yet she said that she was confident that the local market would find the need for car rentals not only for leisure but also for business and government uses.
Drive Services Asia Pacific is a collaboration of three global car rental companies: Alamo, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, and National Car Rental.
It offers thirty units of 11 types of cars including Nissan Almera, Nissan Altima, Toyota Vios, Toyota Innova, Hyundai Accent, and Hyundai Starex.
According to Todd Pfister, Enterprise Holdings Inc. (EHI) regional director for Asia Pacific, Drive Services would seek to be the transportation solution of Cebu at a reasonable price.
The rental price of the cars starts at P2,000 per day depending on the vehicle and its capacity. Renters can also hire a chauffeur for an additional price.
Pfister said that the tourists were the initial target for the launching of the brand through online bookings and reservations.
“Yet the service is for everybody. The branch will cater to walk-ins,” said Pfister.
Pfister said that what Drive Services prides most is its customer service.
He said the company would always put the safety and the satisfaction of the customers as a priority.
Tomada said she was optimistic of the local market’s response but she was also hoping that the Drive Services could help boost the tourism industry in Cebu.
She said she was also looking into long-term rental service for government agencies such as the military or the local government units.