Visitors spent more time and more money in Savannah last year, new report shows

Savannah's visitor economy continues to see vitality and post-pandemic growth, according to a recent report on the city's 2023 tourism performance.

The report shows Savannah-area visitors stayed longer and spent more money last year. Eight of 10 visitors stayed three nights, which is up from three of 10 in 2022. Visitor spending was up 6.5%, with $4.7 billion spent last year.

"That will always be a priority for us, getting folks to stay longer and spend more," said Joe Marinelli, president and CEO of Visit Savannah. "This year's data tells us that we are accomplishing that."

The average length of stay for visitors last year was 2.8 nights, which is likely the longest average ever, Marinelli said. The growth in an added night means that visitors likely have one more breakfast, visit one more museum or spend an extra day shopping, Marinelli said.

The habits of tourists

The data comes from an annual report by Longwoods International, a tourism and travel research firm. The report offers analysis of travel for various cities throughout the U.S., including cities such as Macon and Myrtle Beach, S.C.

When it comes to retail spending, 66% of respondents in the report said they shopped at locally owned businesses. That is the most used retail option in the report; souvenir shopping came in second at 53%. Visitor spending on food and retail saw the largest increases, coming in at about 8%. Spending on lodging increased by 3%.

The top activities for visitors continue to be shopping, sightseeing and exploring the National Historic Landmark District, according to the report. About 69% of the area's overnight travelers are those who have visited before.

"It tells me that the product offering that we have in Savannah meets the needs of our customer," Marinelli said.

Marinelli said the Savannah area is also seeing an uptick in visitors from outside the typical Georgia, South Carolina and Florida radius. The growth in those visitors coming from further away is focused largely from areas that service non-stop flights to Savannah such as Chicago, Boston and New York City.

This year's data comes as Savannah's tourism industry and downtown residents have sought balance with its impact on residential life. Savannah City Council passed Thursday an ordinance to mitigate amplified sound from trolleys.

The ordinance was a result of months of work and compromise between residents and tourism leaders.

Marinelli said that as the visitor economy continues to grow, so has the realization that the opportunities for visitors expand outside the historic district. Marinelli pointed to Enmarket Arena and the growth of the Starland District as examples of other areas that attract visitors.

"I think having an attraction like (Enmarket Arena) helps attract a wider range of visitors," Marinelli said.

Evan Lasseter is the city and county government reporter for the Savannah Morning News. You can reach him at ELasseter@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Visitors spent more time and more money in Savannah last year