Catalina had a record-setting December 2023, according to statistics recently released by Love Catalina Tourism Authority.
“December visitation increased year-over-year by 12.3% or 7,783 visitors totaling 70,869 arrivals. December 2023 total arrivals set a record for the month slightly beating last year’s high of 63,086,” according to the Love Catalina website.
“Passengers arriving by sea, totaled 68,961, up for the month by 12.6% from last year,” according to the website.
“Cross Channel Passenger counts were up 5.6%, an increase of 1,705 people,” according to the website.
“Cruise passenger counts totaled 35,030, up by 19.2% from 2022 or by 5,637 visitors,” according to the website.
“Cruise Passengers made up 49.43% of total monthly arrivals,” according to the website.
Finance Director Baker recently told the City Council that Avalon was seeing double-digit revenue growth in cruise ship activity. “The flip side of that is that it does make us more dependent on that cruise ship as a revenue source,” Baker said.
“Private Boaters Passenger counts totaled 1,512, up from last year by 33.1% or 376 visitors,” according to the Love Catalina website.
“Combined in-bound air passenger counts for December totaled 1,918, up 2.7% or 51 Arrivals from 2022,” according to the Love Catalina website.
“Helicopter Passenger counts totaled 558, down year-over-year by 1.2% or 7 arrivals,” according to the Love Catalina website.
