SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) – Savannah's walking tours might be hitting the brakes – at least after hours. The city is working to strike a balance between downtown residents and walking tours with a new pilot program.
The city of Savannah's Office of Special Events, Film, and Tourism is inviting everyone to voice their opinions on the topic. Wednesday, they are holding their last public meeting before the program begins on Feb. 1. The meeting will address noise, disturbances and the sustainability of walking tour businesses.
A key change includes restricting walking tours south of Liberty Street after 10 p.m. and setting a 1 a.m. cutoff time for all tours.
The mayor said a 90-day trial will provide enough time to see how the tours operate in cold and warm weather.
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"This program is really a larger look at revising our approach to tourism some of our ordinances are dated and aren't reflective of the needs of a busy and growing city. We have also heard a lot from impacted residents who have asked the city to address these issues, and we will do that," said Savannah Mayor Van Johnson.
That meeting is at 6 p.m. at the Coastal Georgia Center (305 Fahm Street). The program is also exploring technology, such as earbuds for tours, to minimize disturbances while maintaining tour quality.
The city will eventually provide a full report, and the council will vote to approve the changes.
The mayor said it will be trial and error to find a balance where both parties are happy.