SAVANNAH, GA (WTOC) -
What do Savannah residents think about how tourism is affecting the quality of life downtown?
The city-appointed Tourism Advisory Committee has been asking that. The results are in and will be announced at an open house on Tuesday night at the Coastal Georgia Center.
The Tourism Advisory Committee conducted an online survey with 577 respondents in December agreement on quite a few issues or issues.
Survey results show that there was not a big push to limit the number of tours, tour companies or even trolleys on the streets at the same time in the Historic District. Less than 50 percent of respondents supported that.
But almost all the respondents said there should be more control over the industry.
In fact, between 75 and 100 percent of those surveyed said there should be a written code of conduct for all licensed tour operators - that there should be a five- to 10-year plan for tourism's growth and impact - and that one central office should be established handle permitting, education and enforcement of ordinances. These are issues that currently fall under the Transportation Division of the Parking Services Department.
"It's always a struggle with government coming in and over-regulating and what we want to do is find the balance. But it's going to take compromise from all individuals who are at the table with us and that's where we want to go and what we want to achieve - making sure that everyone not necessarily gets everything that they want, but they are able to get something where we can become a better community and move forward," Bridget Lidy, the Savannah Liaison to the Tourism Committee.
The survey is just one of the items to be discussed at the meeting.
There will also be a presentation showing current conditions of the tourism industry and the actual proposals that will be made to City Council by the Tourism Advisory Committee.
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