Overall, the visitor count for August 2019 was 1.4% greater than August of last year, according to data recently released by the Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce and Visitor’s Bureau.
The numbers don’t include visitors to the Two Harbors resort.
According to the Chamber, the year-to-date total arrivals reached 717,925, a decrease of 4.4% from last year when the count was 751,836.
“Year-to-date total arrivals is below the three-year average of 742,467 by 3.3%,” according to the Chamber website.
The website included a note reminding readers that the Airport-in-the-Sky was closed for repairs during the first five months of the year.
According to the Chamber website, 136,781 individuals came to Catalina in August 2019 by cross channel carrier, cruise ships, private boats, helicopters, and private aircraft.
“August 2019 exceeded the three-year average of 134,888,” according to the Chamber website. “August exceeded the five and ten-year averages of 133,867 and 122,379, respectively.”
According to a chart posted on the Chamber website, there were slight decreases in two “travel sectors.” The site reported a 1% decrease in cruise ship passengers and a 16.5% decrease in helicopter passengers visiting Catalina.
“Total people arriving by sea, including private boaters, was 132,053 for the month [of August], up 1.2% from 130,547 last year,” the website reported.
“Cross Channel Carriers made up 73.08% of total monthly arrivals,” according to the website. The Chamber also reported a 1% increase of cross channel visitor numbers in August 2019, compared with August 2018.
“Cruise passenger counts were down 1.0% year-over-year @ 21,484,” according to the website.
“The number of Cruise Ships calling on Avalon was down to 8 from 10 from August of 2018,” according to the website.
“Avalon’s combined in-bound air passenger counts for August totaled 4,804, up 7.8% from 2018,” according to the Chamber.
July and August numbers compared
Fewer visitors came to Avalon in August than in July of 2019. According to a table of year-to-date data posted on the website, 136,781 visitors came to Avalon in August, compared with 146,219 visitors in July.
The figures were not all bad. Private boats brought 10,612 visitors to the Island in August, compared with 9,768 in July. Private aircraft brought 2,574 visitors in August, an increase from the 2,337 visitors who flew into the Island in July.
“2019 has been weak year-to-date compared to the prior year. Primary factors have been weather and facility closure. Poor weather has resulted in both Cross Channel and Cruise Ship cancellations and in fewer boaters in the harbor,” according to the Chamber.
“The number of rain days by month is charted below. 2019 represents the most rain days year-to-date with 53 days recorded. 2017 had 36 rain days, 2012 had 20 rain days,” according to the Chamber
