Visit Galveston seeks resident input on tourism

Visit Galveston is partnering with Longwoods International to conduct the survey, continuing a research partnership that began six years ago. The 2026 survey will be the third Resident Sentiment Survey conducted in Galveston, following previous surveys in 2020 and 2024. This allows Visit Galveston to track how resident attitudes toward tourism have changed over time while also comparing Galveston’s results with national benchmarks from Longwoods International’s annual resident sentiment research.


“Tourism is an important part of Galveston’s economy, but we also recognize that its impact goes well beyond dollars and jobs,” said Visit Galveston Executive Director Tony Lyle. “The people who live here experience those impacts every day. We want to hear directly from residents about what is working, where they have concerns and what they want tourism’s role in Galveston’s future to look like.


Topics include tourism’s effect on residents’ quality of life, vacation rentals and neighborhoods, Galveston’s culture and authenticity and whether residents recommend local attractions to visiting friends and family. Residents will also have an opportunity to weigh in on recreational amenities they would like to see funded in the future.


Tourism remains a significant component of Galveston’s economy, supporting approximately one in three jobs on the island. Visitor spending in 2025 generated $1.7 billion in total economic impact, supported 12,799 local jobs, and produced $125 million in state and local tax revenue, according to an independent study conducted by Pennsylvania-based Tourism Economics.


The Park Board is seeking to better understand how those economic benefits align with residents’ experiences and perceptions of tourism’s broader impacts on the community.


“Building a better destination for visitors starts with creating a strong community for the people who live here,” Lyle said. “The more residents we hear from, the better information we have to help guide decisions about Galveston’s future.”


The survey takes approximately 10 minutes and can be accessed here.


About Galveston Island
Galveston Island, Texas is a resilient historic beach town located 50 miles south of Houston. The birthplace of Juneteenth and home to the second largest immigration port into the U.S. in the 1880s, today Galveston Island is a major tourism destination for Texas and beyond. Galveston offers miles of beaches, top-tier museums, family attractions, plus special events and festivals. Galveston’s port is the fourth busiest for cruise passengers in North America and the island eagerly welcomes more than nine million visitors each year. To plan your Galveston Island experience, go to www.visitgalveston.com.