There are two sides to almost every story, or so the old saying goes. In my experience the saying is rarely, if ever, true. There are usually multiple sides to a story, especially when public policy is being discussed. Far too often in our public discourse are we presented with a false binary when discussing public policy. A false binary exists when people lead you to believe there are only two choices, points of view, or realities when, in fact, many more often exist.
I find that false binary rhetoric is often used with discussing matters of tourism and preservation. Some continue to posit the notion that our community must support either preservation or tourism. Nothing could be further from the truth, and it is a point of view that may be adopted by someone who could be attempting to profit, perhaps politically or monetarily, from such a misguided notion. Does the influx of visitors somehow negate Savannah’s historic authenticity and force the city to transform and become more metropolitan?
Absolutely not. In the last 25 years, not a single contributing historic structure has ever been lost due to the construction of a new tourism business. The notion that Savannah must tear down historic buildings to make room for new structures is a completely false narrative. The saying “out with the old and in with the new” is a phrase that rings hollow in our city because we have so many factors in place that protect and nurture the preservation of historic Savannah.
The reality is that tourism and preservation are the epitome of a symbiotic relationship. If one is thriving, then the other is certainly benefiting. So goes one, so goes the other. Visitors travel to Savannah to experience one of the most beautifully preserved cities in the nation. They pour literally billions of dollars into our local community. What some people do not understand is the commerce created by the visitor economy has made the potential of mass-preservation in our community a reality.
Ask yourself the following questions: What would the state of the Owens-Thomas House be today without the roughly three quarters of a million visitors who purchase tickets to tour the famous house museum? What would Broughton Street look like without the consistent visitor spend? Concerning Broughton Street, we do not have to recall that far back in our own history. When the abandoned and endangered property now known as The Marshall House was purchased in 1999, Broughton Street was 75% vacant. Please take a moment to explore the significance of that last sentence, and then consider what The Marshall House and Broughton Street look like today. So goes preservation, so goes tourism.
It does not take an economist, rather just a little data and logic, to realize that the tourism economy in Savannah is the largest single enabling and contributing force for preservation in Savannah. Of course, it is not the only contributing factor. While tourism is the most significant economic and financial driver to the preservation of our history and architecture, sacred institutions such as the Historic Savannah Foundation, along with its outstanding members, have laid the foundation for vital preservation efforts and continue to work for what this community and visitors appreciate today.
SCAD, likewise, has spent millions of dollars in preserving some of the most iconic buildings in our community. Homeowners, both native and new, have poured millions of dollars into their Savannah residences, taking meticulous care to historic details and finishes. All of these patrons to conservation would readily agree that the preservation of our community is crucial – notwithstanding its expense – and worth every single invested dollar.
To think that the tourism community does not care about preservation defies logic and reality. Of all the stakeholders in Savannah, tourism is vested the most in protecting what tourism leaders know full well what draws the visitors here. Pertaining to the business aspect, the preservation of the community is the single most important virtue as it is the most significant contributing factor to the aesthetic that has made our community so popular.
As any good business would perform, significant ongoing market research is conducted to best understand our customer base. We know Savannah is special – it is why we live and do business here. It is why so many have chosen to raise their families here.
Do not subscribe to the false binary that Savannahians must choose either for the historical preservation of our fine city, or for tourism when presented under the guise labeling it as the alternative. These two integral economic components are not exclusive of each other. Rather, preservation and tourism go hand-in-hand. As long as we understand the value of both and appreciate their key influence on our city’s economy, we will never have to choose one or the other.
Michael Owens is the president and CEO of the Tourism Leadership Council, an organization committed to promote, protect and serve the interests of Savannah’s tourism and hospitality industry.
