December 2020

December 2020, reflected the ongoing impacts of COVID-19.  Holiday travel was greatly reduced due to travel restrictions and lack of available activities and attractions due to temporary closures.  The annual New Year’s Eve Gala was not held this year, further impacting December Visitation.

All Arrivals

December visitation decreased year-over-year in four sectors (cross channel, cruise, private aircraft and helicopter), resulting in an overall decrease by 44,236 visitors over the same month last year.

December 2020 Catalina Island Arrivals

December’s total in-bound passengers = 12,259, down 78.2% from last year @ 56,595.  December 2020 was below the three-year average of 42,580 by 71%. December was below the five-year average of 50,142 by 75.4% and the ten-year average of 46,607 by 73.5%.

all arrivals dec green


Arrivals by Sea

Passengers arriving by sea, including private boaters, was 11,151 for the month of December, down 79.4% from 54,184 last year.

arrivals by sea roollingvessel count

  • December Cross Channel passenger counts were down 65.2% year-over-year @ 9,883
  • 2014 had the highest volume for the month @ 39,900 passengers
  • 2020 had the lowest volume for the month @ 9,883 passengers.  Previous low was 1992 @ 17,593
  • December Cross Channel passenger counts were below the three-year average of 23,610 by 58.1%
  • Cross Channel Carriers made up 79.97% of total monthly arrivals

cross channel dec 2020

  • Cruise passenger counts were down 100% year-over-year @ 0 vs. 24,849 in 2019
  • 2005 had the highest cruise passenger volume for the month @ 25,612
  • 2020 had the lowest cruise passenger volume for the month @ 0.  Previous low was 2000 @ 4,062
  • December cruise passenger counts were below the three-year average of 16,127 by 100%
  • Cruise passengers made up 0% of total monthly arrivals
  • The number of Cruise Ships calling on Avalon was down @ 0 vs. 14 in 2019
  • 2019 had the highest number of cruise ships in port @ 14
  • 2020 had the lowest number of cruise ships in port @ 0.  Previous low was 2017 @10

Cruise dec 2020

  • Private Boater passenger counts were up year-over-year by 29.9% @ 1,268
  • 2017 had the highest volume for the month @ 2,216
  • 2019 had the lowest volume month @ 976
  • December private boater passenger counts were above the three-year average of 1,200 by 5.7%
  • December number of boats on anchor was up by 6.5% from last year @ 68
  • 2018 had the highest number of vessels at anchor @ 107
  • 2016 had the lowest number of vessels at anchor @ 5
  • December number of boats on moorings was up 29.9% @ 317
  • 2017 had the highest number of vessels on moorings @ 554
  • 2013 had the lowest number of vessels on moorings @ 11
  • Private Boaters Made up 10.26% of total monthly arrivals

Private boat

 Arrivals by Air

Combined in-bound air passenger counts for December totaled 1,219, down by 49.8% from 2019.

arrivals by air dec 2020

  • People aboard planes (Airport in the Sky) was down 49.2% @ 986
  • 2019 had the highest volume of private aircraft passenger counts for the month @ 1,782
  • 2018 had the lowest volume of private aircraft passenger counts for the month @ 447
  • December counts for people aboard planes was below the three-year average of 1,045 by 13.3%
  • December people aboard planes made up 7.98% of total monthly arrivals

private aircraft

  • People aboard Charter Helicopters was down year-over-year by 52% @ 302
  • 2016 had the highest volume for the month @ 998
  • 2020 had the lowest volume for the month @ 302.  Previous low for month was 453 in 2011
  • December counts were below the three-year average of 587 by 49.4%
  • December people aboard Helicopters made up 2.44% of total monthly arrivals

 

helicopter arrivals

Year-End 2020

all arrivals year end

  • Total arrivals calendar year-end was down 50.7% from last year @ 503,210 vs. 1,021,177 visitors
  • Total arrivals calendar year-end fell below the three, five and ten year averages by over 40% each
  • 2017 had the highest volume in a year @ 1,097,500
  • 2010 had the lowest volume in a year for which we have complete data @ 677,528
  • Year-end counts were below the three-year average of 860,355 by 41.5%

all arrivals 2020 year end

2020 Arrivals by Sea

2020 arrivals by sea

2020 Arrivals by Air

2020 arrivals by air

To view historical data for total arrivals by sector, year and month in a spreadsheet form click here.  

2020 Visitor Services

Year-over-year comparison for some key Visitor Services metrics are being added to monthly reports.  The data sets will continue to evolve in 2021. 

2020 Catalina Island Visitor Center

vc visitsvc calls 2020vc walkins

2020 LoveCatalina.com

2020 Total LoveCatalina.com Website Users 830,585

2020 Website Sessions 1,079,613

2020 Website Pageviews 2,323,185

2020 Printed Visitor Guide orders @ LoveCatalina.com 7,503

2020 Online Guide downloads 1,849

2020 Online E-blast consumer sign-ups 1,450

2020 Book Direct lodging searches 144,130

2020 Book Direct referrals 112,380

2020 Book Direct Package referrals 7,174

2020 Love Catalina Social Media

2020 Total Twitter Followers 4,071 (up 7% from 2019)

2020 Total Instagram Followers 22,966 (up 38% from 2019)

2020 Facebook Followers (multiple accounts) 110,146 (up 5% from 2019)

2020 LinkedIn Followers 133 (up 44% from 2019)

2020 TikTok newly launched

Weather

Data for highs, lows and precipitation is currently unavailable.    When available an amended version of this report will be supplied.

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