More than 500 tourism leaders have gathered on Jekyll Island for the 65th annual Georgia Governor's Tourism Conference. The event comes as tourism continues to be a major economic driver for the state, with over 174 million visitors in 2024 spending more than $45 billion. The industry supported over 470,000 jobs across Georgia last year, accounting for roughly one in every 15 jobs.
This year's conference is focusing on how travel habits are changing and how destinations can adapt. A key topic is the growing role of artificial intelligence in travel, with sessions planned on how travelers use tools like ChatGPT and Google's Gemini to research destinations and make decisions. Hotel industry leaders will also discuss changes in lodging and evolving customer expectations.
Tourism officials are examining visitor-spending data to help communities make decisions about marketing and attracting new travelers. The Savannah-Chatham County area alone welcomed nearly 13 million visitors in 2024. The conference also includes a meeting of the chairs of the Georgia House and Senate committees responsible for economic development and tourism.
For travelers, this focus on data and technology could mean more tailored experiences and better information as destinations adapt to changing preferences. The discussions on Jekyll Island are expected to influence how communities across Georgia market themselves and respond to new travel trends.
