Visitor counts weren’t as high for the first month of January 2022 as they were for January 2021. But the numbers were greater than the three-year average.
“January 2022’s total of 39,221 fell short of January 2020’s pre COVID-19 total arrivals of 52,691 by 13,470 visitors,” according to information recently released by Love Catalina Island. The non-profit group, also known as Catalina Island Tourism Authority, is the local Chamber of Commerce.
“January’s total in-bound passenger count was above the three-year average of 34,144 and was nearly on par with the five and ten-year averages of 40,762 and 42,115 respectively,” according to the Love Catalina website.
The numbers for the previous year, of course, were influenced by the pandemic’s impact on travel in general.
No one comes to Catalina by land. Boats, both ferry services and private vessels, remain the most common means of travel to the Island.
“January Cross Channel Passenger counts were up year-over-year by 238.8% or an increase of 17,811 people,” according to Love Catalina.
“2018 had the highest volume for the month @ 27,774 passengers,” according to Love Catalina.
“Cruise passenger counts totaled 9,654,” according to Love Catalina.
Visitors unfamiliar with the visitor counts should know that the cross channel numbers do not provide a carrier-by-carrier breakdown.
“The number of Cruise Ships calling on Avalon was 10,” according to Love Catalina.
“2021 had the lowest number of ships @ 0, pre-COVID-19 2016 had the lowest number @ 6,” according to Love Catalina.
“Private Boater Passenger counts were down slightly year-over-year @ 1,544 vs. 1,592 in 2021,” according to Love Catalina.
“January’s number of Vessels Anchored was up @ 42 vs. 35 last year,” according to Love Catalina.
“January’s number of Vessels on Moorings was down @ 386 vs. 398 last year,” according to Love Catalina.
“Private Boaters Made up 3.94% of total monthly arrivals,” according to the website.
Of course, some passengers come to Catalina by air.
“Private Aircraft Passengers (Airport in the Sky) was up @ 1,767 from 984 last year,” according to Love Catalina.
“January counts for Helicopter Passengers made up 2.52% of total monthly arrivals,” according to Love Catalina.
Occupancy
“Hotel Occupancy for January was 49.7%, vs no data reported in 2021and 62.7% in 2020,” according to Love Catalina.
“January Hotel Occupancy exceeded San Francisco, Monterey and Newport Beach among our competing destinations,” according to Love Catalina.
“Hotel Average Daily Rate was $161.78 vs no data reported in 2021 and up from $142.55 in 2020,” according to Love Catalina.
“Hotel Revenue Per Available Room was $80.21 vs no data reported in 2021 and down from $89.32 in 2020,” according to Love Catalina.
“Short-Term Rental Average Daily Rate was $440.00, up from $424 in 2021 and $427 in 2020,” according to Love Catalina.
“Short-Term Rental Revenue Per Available Room was $95.00, down from $149.00 in 2021 and $101 in 2020,” according to Love Catalina.
