Catalina visits from cruise ship passengers were up 47 percent in May, according to the Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce. Overall, May 2013 cross-channel traffic for Catalina was only up 1.1 percent from 2012.
“But that’s still up,” said Wayne Griffin, Chamber president and CEO
“We had a few extra trips,” Griffin said, explaining the cruise ship visitor count.
Catalina visits from cruise ship passengers were up 47 percent in May, according to the Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce. Overall, May 2013 cross-channel traffic for Catalina was only up 1.1 percent from 2012.
“But that’s still up,” said Wayne Griffin, Chamber president and CEO
“We had a few extra trips,” Griffin said, explaining the cruise ship visitor count.
Griffin attributed the significant increase in cruise ship visitors to the fact that at this time of year many cruise ships are changing to their Alaska routes.
As the Catalina Islander reported in April, the spring and fall seasons bring additional cruise ship traffic to Catalina. In the spring, the ships are going to Alaska. In the fall, they will be coming from Alaska.
Year-to-date figures show a 30.8 percent increase in cruise ship visitors from the January to May figures last year.
In all, 70,581 people came to Catalina in May 2013. A total of 258,522 visitors have come to the Island since this year began, a 9.7 percent increase since 2012—when 235,696 people visited the Island during the first five months of 2012. The spring cruise ship visitor boost won’t last forever. However, Carnival Cruise Line intends to send a second ship to Catalina starting in January. The Imagination can carry up to 2,052 passengers and is expected to come on Tuesday.
The increased visitor counts mean more money for Island businesses and the city government. Visitors generate $99,668,082 annually, according to “Annual Economic Impact of Visitors to Avalon, Catalina Island.”
The Chamber of Commerce and Visitor’s Bureau report was based on a 10-year period.
The figures were based on city of Avalon tax revenues and the Catalina Island Visitors Bureau statistics.
The report said that each individual visitor generates $117.03 a year. The report said visitors generate more than $94.7 million in retail, lodging and entertainment sales each year.
Visitors also generate more than $4.9 million in wharfage fees as well as retail, lodging and entertainment taxes.
A 10-year average of 851,672 visitors a year spend an average of $69.37 each on food and retail purchases in Avalon, according to the economic impact report.
Those same visitors spend $11.61 each on tours and entertainment.
The report said that in all, visitors spend an average of more than $59 million annually on food, compared with the $596,795 that residents spend.
