Catalina is making a comeback with visitors, according to numbers recently released by Love Catalina Island, also known as Catalina Island Tourism Authority.
“May [2021] visitation increased year-over-year in all sectors, except cruise visitors, resulting in an overall increase by 72,159 visitors over the same month last year,” according to the Love Catalina Island website.
Of course, there were only 7,017 visitors to Catalina in May 2020.
Statewide shutdowns had a massive impact on the local economy.
Year to date data
“Total Arrivals year-to-date was up 56.1% from last year @ 220,246 vs. 141,118 or a difference of 79,128 visitors,” according to Love Catalina.
“Total Arrivals year-to-date remain below the three, five and ten year averages by 4.8%, 21.7% and 27.4% respectively,” according to Love Catalina.
“All arrival sectors are up year-to date except for Cruise [ships],” according to Love Catalina.
There were zero cruise ship visits this year and last year.
May 2021 data
“Previous May tracking (2019 and preceding) offers a comparison with no COVID-19 impacts. May 2021’s total of 79,176 nearly matched May 2019’s total arrivals of 80,005,” according to the Tourism Authority.
“May 2021’s total in-bound passengers = 79,176, up from last year @ 7,017. May 2021 was above the three-year average of 55,416,” according to the Tourism Authority.
“May was just above the five-year average of 69,925 and also above the ten-year average of 76,592 by 3.4%,” according to the Tourism Authority.
“May 2021 trailed May 2019 by only 879 visitors” according to the website.
“Passengers arriving by sea, including private boaters, was 75,982 for the month of May, up by 69,707 from 6,275 last year,” according to the Love Catalina website.
“May Cross Channel passenger counts were up year-over-year @ 70,990 vs. 4,571 last year,” according to Love Catalina.
“2020 had the lowest volume for the month @ 4,571. Pre-COVID-19 the lowest count for the month was in 2007 @ 42,242,” according to Love Catalina.
“2019 had 56,042 Cross Channel passengers or 14,948 fewer than 2021,” according to Love Catalina.
“May Cross Channel passenger counts were above the five-year and ten-year averages of 50,477 and 54,405 respectively,” according to Love Catalina.
“Cross Channel Carriers made up 89.66% of total monthly arrivals,” according to Love Catalina.
That’s not exactly news. The vast majority of visitors come to Catalina Island by boat.
“Private Boater passenger counts were up year-over-year by 193% @ 4,992,” according to Love Catalina.
“Private Aircraft Passengers (Airport in the Sky) was up @ 1,197 from 651 last year,” according to Love Catalina.
“Charter Helicopters Passengers was up year-over-year @ 1,997 vs. 91,” according to Love Catalina.
