April 2021

April demonstrated significant signs of recovery from the COVID-19 related closures.  April 2020 was when COVID-19 based limitations on travel were limiting travel and business to essential workers/services only. 

All Arrivals

April visitation increased year-over-year in all sectors except cruise visitors resulting in an overall increase by 61,887 visitors over the same month last year. 

April 2019 offers a comparison with no COVID-19 impacts. 

April 2021’s total in-bound passengers = 63,911, up from last year @ 2,024.  April 2021 was above the three-year average of 50,436. April was below the five-year average of 65,479 by 2.4% and the ten-year average of 71,548 by 10.7%.  April 2021 trailed April 2019 by 19,461 visitors or 85,372. 

Arrivals by Sea

Passengers arriving by sea, including private boaters, was 68,763 for the month of April, up by 66,852 from 1,911 last year.

• April Cross Channel passenger counts were up year-over-year @ 56,723 vs.1,811 last year
• 2017 had the highest volume for the month @ 65,464 passengers
• 2020 had the lowest volume for the month @ 1,811. Pre-COVID-19 the lowest count for the month was in 2010 @ 36,100
• 2019 had 53,940 Cross Channel passengers or 2,783 fewer passengers than 2021
• April Cross Channel passenger counts were above the three-year average of 37,491 by 51.3%
• April Cross Channel passenger counts were above the five-year and ten-year averages of 46,289 and 47,893 respectively
• Cross Channel Carriers made up 88.75% of total monthly arrivals

• Cruise passenger counts were down @ 0, just as they were in 2020
• 2014 had the highest Cruise passenger volume for the month @ 30,495
• 2021 tied with 2020 as the lowest Cruise passenger volume for the month @ 0.  Previous low was 1995 @ 6,497
• 2019 April Cruise passenger counts totaled 26,303
• April Cruise passenger counts were below the three-year average of 9,378
• April Cruise passengers counts were below the five-year and ten-year averages of 14,364 and 18,309 respectively
• Cruise passengers made up 0% of total monthly arrivals
• The number of Cruise Ships calling on Avalon was 0 as was April 2020
• 2019 had the highest number of cruise ships in port @ 10
• 2021 and 2020 had the lowest number of cruise ships in port @ 0.  Previous low was 2016, 17, and 18 @ 9

• Private Boater passenger counts were up year-over-year by 3,940 @ 4,040
• 2021 had the highest passenger volume for the month @ 4,040
• 2020 had the lowest passenger volume month @ 100.  The prior lowest was 2,396 in 2012.
• April private boater passenger counts were above the three-year average of 2,451 by 64.9%
• April private boater passenger counts were above the five-year and ten-year average by 52.8% and 49.5% respectively
• April’s number of boats on anchor was up by 65.5% @ 91 vs. 55 last year
• 2021 had the highest number of vessels at anchor @ 91
• 2013 had the lowest number of vessels at anchor @ 3
• April number of boats on moorings was up @ 1,010 vs. 25 last year
• 2021 had the highest number of vessels on moorings @ 1,010
• 2020 had the lowest number of vessels on moorings @ 25.  The prior lowest count was in 2012 @ 599
• Private Boaters Made up 6.32% of total monthly arrivals

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 Arrivals by Air

Combined in-bound air passenger counts for April totaled 3,188, up from 113 in 2020.

• People aboard planes (Airport in the Sky) was up @ 1,479 from 60 last year
• 2015 had the highest volume of private aircraft passenger counts for the month @ 1,824
• 2020 had the lowest volume of private aircraft passenger counts for the month @ 60.  The prior lowest count was in 2019 @ 96
• April counts for people aboard planes was above the three-year average of 545 by 171.4%
• April counts for people aboard planes was above the five-year and ten-year averages by 65.8% and 18.8% respectively
• April people aboard planes made up 2.31% of total monthly arrivals

• People aboard Charter Helicopters was up year-over-year @ 1,669 vs. 53 
• 2015 had the highest volume for the month @ 1,888
• 2020 had the lowest volume for the month @ 053.  Previous low for month was 1,036 in 2012
• April counts for people aboard helicopters was above the three-year average of 1,181 by 41.3%
• April counts for people aboard helicopters was above the five-year and ten-year averages by 21.9% and 19.3% respectively
• April people aboard Helicopters made up 2.61% of total monthly arrivals

Year-to-Date

Total year-to-date arrivals are up from last year

• Total arrivals year-to-date was up 5.2% from last year @ 141,070 vs. 134,101 or a difference of 6,969 visitors
• Total arrivals year-to-date fell below the three, five and ten year averages by 18.9%, 33.3% and 37.8% respectively
• Compared to 2019, year-to-date total arrivals are down by 105,535 people
• All sectors of arrivals are up year-to date except for Cruise passengers
• Cross Channel, Cruise and Helicopter arrivals are down year-to-date compared to 2019 while Private Boat and Private Aircraft are up.

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

Visitor Services

April Visitor Services increased year-over-year in all measures.

Catalina Island Visitor Center

• Number of calls for the month was up year-over-year by 168.7% @ 583 vs. 217
• 2008 had the highest volume for the month @ 1,724 calls
• 2020 had the lowest volume for the month @ 217 calls
• April call counts were below the three-year average of 527 by 10.6%
• Number of Walk-Ins for the month was up year-over-year @ 1,378 vs. 0.  In April 2020 the Visitor Center was closed to walk-ins due to limited visitor volume under COVID-19 related travel restrictions.
• 2018 had the highest volume for the month @ 3,443 guests
• 2020 had the lowest volume for the month @ 0 guests
• April Walk-In counts were below the three-year average of 1,479 by 6.8%

LoveCatalina.com

April LoveCatalina.com Website users were 91,598 vs. 48,051 in 2020

April 2021 Printed Visitor Guide orders @ LoveCatalina.com @ 150

April 2021 Online Guide downloads @ 433

Monthly E-blast consumer sign-ups @ 143

Monthly Book Direct lodging searches 18,661

Monthly Book Direct referrals 16,477

Monthly Book Direct Package referrals are currently unavailable

Weather

Data for April highs, lows and precipitation going back to 2012 is displayed below. Multi-year rain days data is also displayed by year and month.  Measures are taken at Avalon Harbor.