'We are going to damage the island': Tybee residents weigh tourism impact on quality of life

Tybee Island's allure has a flip side. Tourism impacts quality of life.

In the oppressive heat of the Savannah summer, thousands of visitors flock to Tybee Island to catch the cool ocean breeze. Cars flow onto the small barrier island of about 3.2 square miles from U.S. 80, the only road connecting it to the mainland. The population swells tenfold, and, at times, it is almost impossible to drive off of Tybee.

The beach town’s approximately 3,000 residents endure the throng of overnight visitors and daytrippers every year. They accept the ebbs and flows of the season and welcome the economic benefits the visitors bring, but in recent years, more and more Tybeeans have voiced frustrations over the negative impacts.

Daytrippers flock to Tybee, bringing traffic and parking issues. What's the impact on residents?

Demand for lodging on Tybee Island fuels economy, strains neighborhoods

Less trash on the beach?: How Tybee Island's anti-litter efforts have resulted in cleaner sands

During tourist season, Tybee residents know better than to run their errands on certain days. Many have stopped trying to dine at their favorite restaurants on the weekend, preferring to cook at home than brave the crowds. Forget snagging a parking spot, let alone a seat at the Tybee hotspot, Huc-A-Poo's, on a Saturday evening.

By the way: Savannah welcomes visitors seeking experiences year-round

Travel & Leisure says Savannah is near one of the best beaches in the U.S.

And: Jellyfish plentiful in waters off Tybee beach this time of year

Tybee Island is a magnet for visitors

Though Tybee has been a magnet for visitors since the late 1800s, dating to when a train first connected the barrier island to the mainland, steady development and tourism marketing in recent years have catapulted the beach town’s reputation as a seaside getaway. The main thoroughfares are now lined with hotels, restaurants, gift shops and businesses catering towards visitors. Millions of people visit the island each year.

Tourism has become the lifeblood of Tybee’s local economy and it’s galvanized much of the city’s growth. The estimated economic impact of tourism on the island alone is around $93 million, annually, according to a 2015 tourism study from Georgia Southern University.

Residents acknowledge the financial boon drives their town and helps their neighborhoods thrive. But it’s possible “to have too much of a good thing,” said long-time resident Kathryn Williams, who retired as co-owner of popular Tybee eatery North Beach Grill this summer.

'Dial it back' or reap the consequences

In Williams' 12 years as a Tybee business owner, she watched a majority of her staff move off the island, as Tybee’s popularity rose.

Fed-up residents like her are calling for the city to take a look at the flip side of the tourism industry. Limited parking and congestion have residents feeling housebound during the summer. More and more properties in their neighborhoods have converted into vacation rentals for guests. 

“If we don’t do something to dial it back, we are going to damage the island, not only by overuse of the infrastructure but the environment and the quality of life for visitors and residents,” said Williams.

This issue is not unique to Tybee Island. Coastal towns across the country are dealing with the impacts. And just across the causeway, 17 miles west, so is Savannah's Historic District.

"And there's no easy answer to that — mitigating the impacts to the neighborhoods," said city manager Shawn Gillen.

Tourism dollars fund city projects and infrastructure improvements, so it’s all about striking that balance, according to Gillen.

Struggling to keep up with popularity

Over the years, Tybee officials have improved the island's public safety measures, fixed infrastructure issues, ramped up beach cleaning efforts and are in the midst of regulating the vacation rental industry that’s bloomed across the island.

But residents feel that Tybee’s popularity has outpaced those solutions. The region’s population continues to increase. Added direct flights to the Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport draw cross-country visitors to Savannah and, subsequently, Tybee Island. The future promises more and more daytrippers, which means more congestion, overcrowding and pressures on the city’s infrastructure capacity over the horizon.

"Both residents and tourists deserve and depend on the city to maintain a safe and healthy community and sustainable infrastructure, and the city is committed to providing both," said Tybee Island mayor Shirley Sessions. "Hopefully, Tybee will always be a place where people want to live, work and play, and leaders will work with our community and visitors to find a balance we can be comfortable with."

'Don't want to surf in litter': Pro surfer to visit Tybee, boost clean-up efforts

Nancy Guan is the general assignment reporter covering Chatham County municipalities. Reach her at nguan@gannett.com or on Twitter @nancyguann.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Tourism fuels Tybee Island economy but harms residents quality of life