SAVANNAH, Ga. () — While Halloween may spotlight Savannah’s eerie allure, the city’s ghostly charm is a significant draw for tourists year-round. This October, however, the influx of visitors attending ghost tours, filling hotels, and participating in local festivities is particularly notable. New figures reveal that the autumn season is a key economic contributor for the city.

Renowned as America’s most haunted city, Savannah sees its spectral reputation invigorate the local economy, especially as October unfolds. Tourism authorities have examined data from recent years, discovering that this month consistently attracts one of the largest visitor increases.

According to statistics provided by Visit Savannah, October ranks as one of the city’s most lucrative months, generating nearly $20 million in credit card expenditures locally. Hotel occupancy rates soar to the high seventies, surpassing the average by 10%.

“Reviewing data from 2023 and 2024 shows October consistently stands out as a peak month each year. Various factors contribute to this trend, including the appeal of haunted attractions. However, our pleasant weather, pedestrian-friendly downtown, and major events also play a significant role in sustaining October’s robust activity,” explained Lauren Cleland, Vice President of Strategic Marketing at Visit Savannah.

Events like the SCAD Film Festival, Savannah Pride, Tybee Pirate Fest, and Wag-O-Ween further boost the demand for accommodations and dining throughout the city. Additionally, ghost tours are seeing earlier and more frequent bookings this year, underscoring that Savannah’s haunted allure extends well beyond Halloween.

“Normally, we see that increase toward the end of the month, but we saw it actually pop up in the middle of the month this year, which was nice. A lot of us have said that we experienced kind of a lull at the beginning of Halloween week, but a lot of us are either fully booked or almost completely booked for this weekend,” said Enocha Edenfield, a Spokesperson for the Savannah Association of Local Tours.

After what tour operators and officials say was a slower summer economically for Savannah… the fall momentum is giving local businesses and tour operators a much-needed boost.

Tourism analysts say October brings in the most economic activity in Savannah during the second half of the year (July to December), with visitor spending generating an estimated $20 million in the month alone.