The Impact of Car Rentals on Local Communities in Rwanda

The Rwanda Car rental business is growing fast given the convenience and flexibility that hiring a car gives. If you’re visiting Rwanda for the first time, renting a car is the best was to get around the country. You get to make your own schedule and travel at your own pace. Here is the the impact of Car Rentals on Local Communities in Rwanda.

They also provide tourists with the opportunity to freely move around the county, explore sights, visit remote places and plan their own routes. They also provide a wide range of car models so you get to choose a car that best suits your needs. Car rentals have affected the local communities in a number of ways.

Accessibility

Car rental services provide the easiest and cheapest ways to get around the country, not only for tourists but also for locals. In Rwanda, not everyone owns a car and there are circumstances that necessitate one to have a private car rather than use public means.

A case in point is taking a patient in critical condition to hospital, taking children to boarding schools, going for a luxury party, going on a trip among others. In this situation, renting a car from a reputable car rental company is the best option.

Growth of local businesses

With tourism being the most important export for the country, the car rental business is booming. Kigali Car rental businesses have a variety of fleets that need to be regularly serviced and maintained.

Most car service and repair shops have largely benefitted from this business by getting contracts to maintain these cars. Also car rentals give tourists accessibility to both urban and remote places. Locals own businesses in these places for example arts and crafts, accommodation,  restaurants, fresh fruits and vegetables among others.

Infrastructural Development

Rwanda’s peak tourist season is between June and September. This coincides with summer in many Western countries. People travel a lot during the summer and demand for rental cars is high during this time because most tourists prefer to self drive on their visit.

This has compelled the government of Rwanda to invest in a good road network system and it is not by surprise that Rwanda has some of the best roads in Africa. Rwanda Car rentals also pay a significant amount to the Road Maintenance Fund(RMF) in form of road maintenance fees and this has enabled Rwanda to maintain up to standard roads.

Employment Opportunities

Rwanda Car rental businesses provide employment opportunities for a significant number of Rwandans. They employ software developers to develop and maintain their websites, customer care agents, sales representatives,  drivers, security guards among others. This has increased their income levels and improved their ways of life.

As much as car rental businesses have changed the way of life of Rwandan communities for the better, they have also had negative impacts including the following.

Increased Traffic

During the peak tourism season, the roads are congested because most tourists rent cars for self drive increasing the number of cars on the road. Getting parking spots on both the streets and night parking lots is a hassle. Many locals end up getting tickets for improper parking.

The increased number of cars also leads to Green House Gas emissions that can be harmful to the environment and climate at large. Though this is not expected to be a big challenge since electric Vehicles are likely to become the new normal in Rwanda in the near future.

Reduced Vehicle Purchase

Renting a car allows individuals who want access to a car to borrow  one rather than having to deal with the cost, hassle, or commitment of ownership. Kigali Car rentals have a variety of fleets to choose from depending on one’s needs.

Besides, many Rwandans use other public means of transport for their daily activities so they don’t see the need to buy a car. Whenever the need to have a car for private use arises, car rentals are there to address the issue at an affordable fee.

Car rentals have mainly impacted the local communities in a positive way and in order to eliminate the negative impacts, they can invest in eco friendly vehicles, implement sustainable business practices and support communities through Corporate  Social Responsibility(CSR) initiatives.