Statistically, fewer visitors came to Catalina in September 2020 than in September 2019. However, COVID-19 related restrictions hit the Island hard earlier this year.
“September saw significant growth over prior months of the year,” according to the Love Catalina Island/ Catalina Island Tourism Authority website.
Remember that in April, Catalina saw 2,024 visitors in all. There were 71,078 visitors counted in September—down from almost 80,000 in August, but still an improvement over the visitor counts for April, May, and June.
Love Catalina (formerly the local Chamber of Commerce) recently released the visitor count data for last month.s
Keep in mind that cruise ship visits, a significant source of visitor traffic in Catalina’s off-season, ended earlier this year and is unlikely to return soon.
And there was some good news with the bad: “Private Boater passenger counts were up year-over-year by 10.1% @ 8,832,” according to Love Catalina.
“September visitation decreased year-over-year in three sectors, resulting in a total decrease of 27.8% in passengers over the same month last year,” according to the Love Catalina website.
“September’s total in-bound passengers = 71,078, down 27.8% from last year @ 98,425. September 2020 was below the three-year average of 90,317 by 21.3%,” according to Love Catalina.
“September was below the five-year average of 94,096 by 24.5% and the ten-year average of 93,029 by 23.6%,” according to Love Catalina.
Overall, visitors who came by boat decreased. However, there was an increase in the number of boats on moorings in September 2020 when compared with September 2019. “People arriving by sea, including private boaters, was 67,675 for the month of September, down 28.5% from 94,599 last year,” according to Love Catalina.
“September number of boats on anchors was down 13.6% from last year @ 108,” according to Love Catalina.
“September number of boats on moorings was up 10.1% @ 2,208,” according to Love Catalina.
“Private Boaters Made up 12.43% of total monthly arrivals ,” according to Love Catalina.
“September Cross Channel passenger counts were down 10.7% year-over-year @ 58,813,” according to Love Catalina.
“Combined in-bound air passenger counts for September totaled 3,529, down by 9.5% from 2019.
The air travel numbers are a bit tricky. Overall, there were fewer visitors by air—primarily among helicopter passengers.
“Combined in-bound air passenger counts for September totaled 3,529, down by 9.5% from 2019,” according to Love Catalina.
There was an increase in people aboard airplanes, including private aircraft. Unfortunately, there was a 26.7% decrease in the number of people who came by helicopter.
