August and July 2022 visitor counts saw more visitors than in 2021, according to statistics released this week by Love Catalina Island Tourism Authority.
“August visitation increased year-over-year by 37.7% or 39,620 visitors,” according to Love Catalina (the non-profit previously known as the Chamber of Commerce).
That’s good news for Island’s tourism-dependent businesses.
This article will start with a look at the August numbers because they are the most recent.
August stats
“August 2022’s total of 144,834 exceeded August 2019’s pre COVID-19 total arrivals of 136,781 by 8,053 visitors,” according to Love Catalina.
“Passengers arriving by sea, totaled 140,590 for the month and were up 38.9% from last year,” according to Love Catalina.
“Cross Channel Passengers made up 66.55% of total monthly [August] arrivals,” according to Love Catalina.
“Cruise passenger counts totaled 33,876,” according to Love Catalina.
The website pointed out that there were no cruise ship visits in 2020 and 2021.
That’s why there is no percentage given. Mathematically, there’s no such thing as a percent of zero.
“2022 had the highest Cruise Passenger volume for the month @ 33,876,” according to Love Catalina.
“Cruise Passengers made up 23.39% of total monthly arrivals,” according to Love Catalina.
“Private Boater Passenger counts were up from last year by 1.1% @ 10,332 vs. 10,220,” according to Love Catalina.
“August’s number of Vessels Anchored was down 2.5% @ 119 vs 122 last year,” according to Love Catalina.
“August’s number of Vessels on Moorings was up slightly from last year @ 2,583 vs 2,555,” according to Love Catalina.
“Combined in-bound air passenger counts for August totaled 4,329 up 6.4% from 4,069 in 2021,” according to Love Catalina.
“Year-to-date Total Arrivals were up @ 776,861 vs. 545,569 last year or a difference of 231,292 visitor,” according to Love Catalina.
July stats
Catalina saw 26,545 more visitors in July 2022 than in the previous July, according to Love Catalina.
“July visitation increased year-over-year by 21.4% or 26,545 visitors,” according to the Love Catalina website.
“July’s 2022’s total of 150,446 exceeded July 2019’s pre COVID-19 total arrivals of 146,219 by 4,227 visitors,” according to Love Catalina.
“Year-to-date Total Arrivals were up @ 632,027 vs. 440,355 last year or a difference of 191,672 visitors,” according to Love Catalina.
“July’s total in-bound passenger count was above the three, five and ten-year averages of 112,529, 126,585 and 120,346 respectively,” according to Love Catalina.
“Passengers arriving by sea, totaled 146,336 for the month and were up 21.9% from last yearPassengers arriving by sea, totaled 146,336 for the month and were up 21.9% from last year,” according to Love Catalina.
“Cross Channel Passengers made up 72.1% of total monthly arrivals,” according to Love Catalina.
“Cruise passenger counts totaled 28,440,” according to Love Catalina.
“Cruise Passengers made up 18.9% of total monthly arrivals,” according to Love Catalina.
“Private Boater Passenger counts were down from last year by 10.3% @ 9,520 vs. 10,608,” according to Love Catalina.
According to the non-profit group, all arival sectors saw an increase exept for private boats.
“Private Boaters Made up 6.3% of total monthly arrivals,” according to Love Catalina.
“July’s number of Vessels Anchored was up 12% @ 149 vs 133 last year,” according to Love Catalina.
