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 roolling vessel 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