Skift Take
Savannah’s largest market of incoming visitors is comprised of day-trippers from cities that are driving distance away, but an increase in designer hotels and larger festivals and attractions has started to widen the city’s tourism base.
San Francisco bay area residents Bill and Mady Cloud rolled into Savannah late Thursday and will continue their summer vacation when they head out for Charleston later today.
The couple spent a few minutes Friday afternoon sitting on an Ellis Square bench, plotting a return trip -- a longer one.
"We want to rent a place at the beach or here in the historic district next time," Mady Cloud said. "We didn't do much research before we came and didn't know there was this much to do."
The Clouds' future plans reflect a shift in Savannah tourism not apparent in the visitor volume and spending study released last week. The city has gone from an Interstate 95 roadside attraction to a place to stop for a night to a getaway spot over the last decade and a half.
Now local tourism leaders see hints that Savannah is on the cusp of becoming a full-blown vacation destination. They cite new attractions, such as the SCAD Museum of Art and the Savannah Children's Museum, an emerging foodie culture and expanding hotel offerings as evidence of the city's potential.
"We're seeing the beginning of the evolution of our hospitality industry," said Joe Marinelli with Visit Savannah, the local convention and visitors bureau. "The more reasons visitors have to stay in town, the longer they'll stay. Over time, that will come."
Like most evolutionary processes, the shift will happen slowly. While the visitor volume and spending study, compiled by ind
