Founded in 1976 as the Savannah Convention & Visitors Bureau; now known as Visit Savannah, the organization was established to market Savannah as a premier destination and to grow the local visitor economy. In 1980, local leaders made a pivotal and forward-thinking decision to reinvest hotel/motel tax revenue into tourism marketing, creating a sustainable funding model that continues to deliver strong economic returns for Savannah and Chatham County.

In 2010, the organization formally rebranded as Visit Savannah, reflecting a modern destination marketing strategy and Savannah’s rising national and international profile. Visitor volume has grown substantially over time, increasing from approximately 1.3 million visitors in 1977, generating an estimated 60.8 million in direct spending, to an estimated 12.9 million visitors in 2024, producing 4.1 billion in visitor spending.

For five decades, Visit Savannah has strengthened Savannah and Chatham County’s economy, supported jobs, generated critical public revenue, and enhanced the quality of life for residents while elevating Savannah’s reputation on the global stage.

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