RWC: Visitors planning to hire cars, vans

Photo / Paul Estcourt

The World Cup is coming; and so is the extra traffic.

Figures from tournament organiser Rugby New Zealand 2011 show 22,677 overseas visitors intend to hire a car, 12,093 intend to hire a camper van and 18,788 intend to fly domestically while they are here for the World Cup.

United Campervans managing director Kay Howe said demand has been high since the tournament's airfares were confirmed.

"We are already very busy for the Rugby World Cup but still have availability. The larger vehicles have filled earliest as these are at a premium for groups travelling together.

"It really is impossible to predict when we may be fully booked."

But the company won't be expanding its fleet - it wouldn't make commercial sense for such a short period of demand.

Avis car rental managing director Kathryn O'Neil said the company expected to be booked out.

"We're treating it like it will be our summer season. We would expect to be booked out during the peak of the World Cup. It's certainly not sold out. Rentals tend to be the last thing that people book."

New Zealand Rental Vehicle Association chief executive Raewyn Bleakley estimated there were 5500 rental camper vans and 22,000 cars in the country but urged people wanting vehicles during the World Cup to book early.

THE NUMBERS

* 12,093: Visitors intending to hire a camper van.

* 18,788: Visitors intending to take domestic flights.

* 22,677: Those intending to hire rental cars.