And the numbers say …

File photo by Andrew Ficke

November 2021 visitor count 64.6% higher than November 2021

This November’s visitor traffic increased by 27,773 individuals over last November’s guest count, according to the data recently released by Love Catalina Island (the non-profit formerly known as the Chamber of Commerce).

That’s 64.6%, according to the pro-business group that is also known as the Catalina Island Tourism Authority.

Business data

“Hotel Occupancy for November 2021 was 67.8%, up from 49.4% in 2020,” according to the Love Catalina Island website.

“November 2021 Hotel Occupancy exceeded Palm Springs, San Diego, Huntington Beach, Monterey, Anaheim and San Francisco in our competitive set, but was below Santa Barbara, Newport Beach and Santa Monica,” according to Love Catalina.

“Short-Term Rental Occupancy for November was 42%, down from 49% in 2020,” according to Love Catalina.

Visitor totals

“Total year-to-date arrivals are up from last year by 55%,” according to the non-profit.

“Total Arrivals year-to-date was up @ 764,357 vs. 490,851 last year or a difference of 273,506 visitors,” according to the Love Catalina website.

“All arrival sectors are up 2021 year-to-date compared to 2019 with the exception of Cruise,” the website reported.

November

“November 2021’s total of 60,449 fell short of November 2019’s pre COVID-19 total arrivals of 70,062,” according to the group’s website.

“November’s total in-bound passenger count was above the three-year average of 55,741 but below the five and ten-year averages of 60,727 and 62,360 respectively,” according to the website.

Many by sea

“Passengers arriving by sea, including private boaters, totaled 58,077 for the month of November, up by 68.7% from last year,” according to the website.

“November Cross Channel Passenger counts were up year-over-year by 51.9% or an increase of 16,534 people,” according to Love Catalina.

“Cross Channel Passengers made up 80.02% of total monthly arrivals,” according to Love Catalina.

“Private Boater Passenger counts were up year-over-year @ 3,156 vs. 2,592 in 2020,” according to Love Catalina.

“November’s number of Vessels Anchored was up @ 99 vs.69 last year,” according to Love Catalina.

The non-profit put the private boat boater count at 5.22% of monthly arrivals.

Cruise passengers

Five cruise ships visited the Island last month, according to Love Catalina.

“Cruise passenger counts totaled 6,549,” according to Love Catalina.

“Cruise Passengers made up 10.83% of total monthly arrivals,” according to Love Catalina.

By air

“Private Aircraft Passengers (Airport in the Sky) was down @ 1,593 from 1,620 last year,” according to Love Catalina.

Helicopters brought 799 passengers to Catalina in November 2021. Last November, the total was 666, according to the non-profit.

“November counts for Helicopter Passengers made up 1.29% of total monthly arrivals,” according to the website.