The province is hoping this summer will be a banner year for tourism in the province with Come Home Year Celebrations, but one hurdle that needs to be addressed leading up to that is a shortage of rental cars.

Brenda O’Reilly, Chair of Hospitality NL, says there is a worldwide shortage of rental cars.

Since the start of the pandemic, she explains the shortage has been much more acute due to supply chain issues and a shortage of computer chips.

She says at the start of the pandemic many car rental companies sold off their fleets and are now trying to restock them.

O’Reilly doesn’t have any figures as to the availability of rental cars currently in the province, but does say they are meeting with Government and other stakeholders to try to find a solution, especially with Come Home Year on the horizon.

She says an immediate creative solution needs to be found. She says the hospitality industry is rural and urban, and relies on rental cars, taxi services, and bus lines. She notes that access has always been a problem in the province.